Registry Data in Injury Research: Study Designs and Interpretation

Purpose of Review Injury data is frequently captured in registries that form a census of 100% of known cases that meet specified inclusion criteria. These data are routinely used in injury research with a variety of study designs. We reviewed study designs commonly used with data extracted from injury registries and evaluated the advantages and disadvantages of each design type. Recent Findings Registry data are suited to 5 major design types: (1) Description, (2) Ecologic (with ecologic cohort as a particularly informative sub-type), (3) Case-control (with location-based and culpability studies as salient subtypes), (4) Case-only (including case-case and case-crossover subtypes), and (5) Outcomes. Registries are an important resource for injury research. Investigators considering use of a registry should be aware of the advantages and disadvantages of available study designs.

Automated summary

The purpose of this review was to assess the different study designs commonly used with injury registry data and evaluate their advantages and disadvantages. The findings suggest that injury registries are an important resource for injury research.