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. 2023 Apr 10;8(2):e637.
doi: 10.1097/pq9.0000000000000637. eCollection 2023 Mar-Apr.

Timely Recognition of Abusive Injuries (TRAIN): Results from a Statewide Quality Improvement Collaborative

Kristin Garton Crichton  1 , Sandra Spencer  2 , Robert Shapiro  3 , Paul McPherson  4 , Eugene Izsak  5 , Lolita M McDavid  6 , Carrie Baker  7 , Jonathan D Thackeray  8
Affiliations

Timely Recognition of Abusive Injuries (TRAIN): Results from a Statewide Quality Improvement Collaborative

Kristin Garton Crichton et al. Pediatr Qual Saf. .

Abstract

Early recognition of physical abuse is critical as children often experience recurrent abuse if their environment remains unchanged. The Timely Recognition of Abusive Injuries (TRAIN) Collaborative was a quality improvement network of 6 Ohio children's hospitals created in 2015 to improve the management of injuries concerning for abuse in infants. TRAIN's first phase sought to reduce recurrent abuse by recognizing and responding to injured infants. This study aimed to reduce reinjury rate among infants ≤6 months by 10% at 1 year and 50% by 2 years and sustain improvement for 1 year as reflected in 3- and 12-month reinjury rates.

Methods: The TRAIN Collaborative adopted the Institute for Healthcare Improvement's Breakthrough Series Collaborative Model, where partnerships between organizations facilitate learning from each other and experts. Collaborative members identified opportunities to improve injury recognition, implemented changes, responded to data, and reconvened to share successes and obstacles. As a result, institutions implemented different interventions, including education for clinical staff, increased social work involvement, and scripting for providers.

Results: Data collected over 3 years were compared to a 12-month baseline. The number of injuries increased from 51 children with concerning injuries identified monthly to 76 children sustained throughout the collaborative. However, within 2 years, the 3- and 12-month reinjury rates ultimately significantly decreased from 5.7% to 2.1% and 6.5% to 3.7%, respectively.

Conclusion: Our data suggest the Institute for Healthcare Improvement's Breakthrough Series model can be applied across large populations to improve secondary injury prevention in infants.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no financial interest to declare in relation to the content of this article.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
TRAIN global key driver diagram.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
C-chart of the number of first concerning injuries in the current month among infants ≤6 months.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.
P-chart of reinjury rates within 3 months of infants with a concerning injury at ≤6 months.
Fig. 4.
Fig. 4.
P-chart of reinjury rates within 12 months of infants with a concerning injury at ≤6 months.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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