Table 3 Round II (a) determined research priorities

Research Questions

1. What are the possible aspects of cognitive bias that could play a significant role when informing early decisions about timing and mode of imaging and operative interventions for seriously injured older adults? Cognitive bias could include confirmation and availability biases.

2. Could the development of specific triage criteria improve the outcomes of older trauma patients?

3. Do older adults benefit from access to trauma centres? If so, do older trauma patients have equal access to trauma centre compared to younger adults?

4. Beyond the ED, what is the appropriate combined geriatric and trauma care?

5. Is older abuse effectively assessed among injured older adults in emergency departments?

6. What is the role of end of life care for older trauma patients in the Emergency and Pre-hospital settings?

7. What is the appropriate expertise level of provider while caring of injured older adults (ED physician, Trauma surgeon, Academic vs community hospital, designated trauma center vs. not)?

8. What is the best way for screening and managing rib fractures among older trauma patients to improve their outcomes?

9. What is the appropriate way to evaluate older adults’ driving competency and skills?

10. Could the application of “Trauma-geriatric” model similar to “ortho-geriatric” model improve the outcomes of injured older adults?

11. What is the impact comorbidities including age specific comorbid conditions (like frailty, cognitive decline, and reduced independence) on the outcomes of injured older adults? This could include pain management and secondary trauma.

12. What is the impact of polypharmacy on the outcomes of injured older adults?

13. Does the benefits or potential harms of ED geriatric trauma services (diagnostic, therapeutic resuscitation) require quantification as does the value of geriatric-specific ED or geriatric trauma services?

14. What group of older trauma patients could benefit from trauma team activation?

15. Is the holistic approach considered by healthcare providers while assessing frail older patients?

16. How to achieve appropriate, navigable and safe disposition for older trauma patients?

17. Does patient’s outcomes differ between early Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) versus normal care specifically in the setting of a trauma unit or major trauma centre?

18. What is the most appropriate and effective way to identify spinal injury following low mechanism falls among older people?

19. What are the older people’s preferred goals of trauma care?

20. What are the physical and cognitive functional outcomes of older people discharged form hospital following major trauma?