Developing a National Integrated Road Traffic Injury Registry System: A Conceptual Model for a Multidisciplinary Setting

Homayoun Sadeghi-Bazargani,1,2 Alireza Sadeghpour,1 Michael Lowery Wilson,3,4 Alireza Ala,5 Farzad Rahmani5 1Road Traffic Injury Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; 2International Safe Community Certifying Center, Stockholm, Sweden; 3University of Turku, Turku, Finland; 4Heidelberg Institute of Global Health (HIGH), University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany; 5Emergency Medicine Department, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, IranCorrespondence: Homayoun Sadeghi-BazarganiRoad Traffic Injury Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Janbeh Borjeh Sharan, Golshar, Tabriz, IranTel +98 9144027218Email homayoun.sadeghi@gmail.comAlireza SadeghpourShohada Hospital, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Golshar, Tabriz, IranTel +98 9143119318Email asadeghpour@yahoo.comIntroduction: Despite a high burden of traffic injuries, effective integrated or linked injury surveillance systems are rarely available in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The aim of the current study was to define a conceptual model for developing a national integrated traffic injury registry in Iran.Methods: A mult-method study financially and technically supported by the World Health Organization, Iranian Ministry of Health, Iranian Traffic Police, and the Iranian Legal Medicine Organization was conducted. A theoretical framework, forming the core conceptual components, was developed based on expert reviews. The preliminary conceptual model was developed by a panel of experts and tailored through a national workshop of 50 scientists, authorities and experts from nearly all sectors related to road safety promotion and injury management. It was then sent out to external reviewers in order to assess and improve the content validity of the model.Results: The conceptual model was developed to have six components. These included 1) aims and core definitions; 2) content and core measurements; 3) data flow; 4) data collection routines; 5)