Using injury prevention priority scores to investigate adult traumatic injuries in Nova Scotia, Canada.

BACKGROUND: Traumatic injuries are a primary public health concern and a leading cause of mortality, placing significant strain on healthcare systems. To address this, the objective is to develop province-wide Injury Prevention Priority Scores (IPPS) for major traumatic injuries in Nova Scotia. Allowing for the identification of which mechanisms, if prevented, would yield the greatest impact. METHODS: We included all adults (≥20 years old) major trauma patients in Nova Scotia from April 1, 2016, to March 31, 2023, from a population-based trauma registry. We calculated Injury Prevention Priority Scores (IPPS) for each mechanism of injury. Frequency plus one of the following measures: injury severity, mortality, resource utilization, and societal cost, is included in the IPPS calculation. RESULTS: A total of 6240 patients were included in the analysis, with falls the leading IPPS scores in two domains (Severity = 66 and Resource Utilization = 65). Motor vehicle collisions scored the highest (65) in the societal cost domain, while intentional self-harm injuries and falls shared the highest score (64) for the mortality domain. CONCLUSIONS: Based on our investigation, falls and motor vehicle collisions are the top injury priorities for injury prevention in Nova Scotia, while intentional self-harm linked to substance use also demonstrated high mortality. High hospital costs from falls in older adults emphasize the need for a coordinated early intervention and improved trauma care planning. Targeted injury prevention strategies focusing on falls, motor vehicle collisions, and intentional self-harm, alongside interdisciplinary support, are crucial for reducing trauma-related morbidity and mortality.