The rehabilitation of trauma patients in primary care is challenging, and there are no guidelines for optimal treatment. In addition, the organization of care is not well-structured.
The Transmural Trauma Care Model (TTCM) has been developed in the Netherlands, aiming to improve patient outcomes by optimizing the organization and quality of the rehabilitation process in primary care.
The TTCM consists of a multidisciplinary team at the outpatient clinic (trauma surgeon and hospital-based physical therapist), an educated and trained network of primary care trauma physical therapists, and improved structural communication between the team members.
A recent feasibility study showed that implementation of the TTCM at a Dutch level-one trauma center was feasible, patient outcomes were improved, and costs were reduced.
In this multicenter trial participating hospitals first will include 322 patients in the control group, receiving usual care as provided in these specific hospitals. Subsequently, the TTCM will be implemented in all participating hospitals, and these hospitals will include an additional 322 patients in the intervention group.
Co-primary outcomes will investigate generic and disease-specific health-related quality of life. Secondary outcomes will include pain, patient satisfaction, perceived recovery, and patient-reported physical functioning. For the economic evaluation, societal and healthcare costs will be measured. Measurements will take place at baseline and after 6 weeks, 3, 6, and 9 months.
This trial with a controlled before-and-after design will give insight into the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the TTCM in a multicenter trial.
