Should the development of orthopaedic trauma nursing be a priority in low to middle income countries? A scoping review

Klunder-Rosser, JA

Abstract

Background: Traumatic orthopaedic injuries are responsible for 5.8 million deaths every year, with 90% occurring in Low to Middle Income Countries. Approximately six times as many people are injured due to trauma than those who die of it. Nursing is an under-utilised resource in global trauma care and little research exists into the availability or training of skilled orthopaedic nurses in Low to Middle Income Countries.

Objectives: This scoping review aims to summarise and critique the existing body of research to identify if the development. And in some cases, establishment, of trauma and orthopaedic nursing should be a priority in low resource settings. The review also aims to identify any barriers to the advancement of the speciality, and any existing solutions to support nurses training and development.

Methodology: A scoping literature search was conducted, searching four databases (ProQuest, Medline, CINHAL and SOLAR) with key words and phrases to identify current literature.
Results: Eleven papers were identified. Key themes include the need to prioritise nursing education in Low to Middle Income Countries and upskill and utilise the nursing workforce to provide care to trauma patients.

Conclusions: Significant investment in the development of orthopaedic nursing is needed in Low to Middle Income Countries to reduce morbidity and mortality and retain the local nursing workforce.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 7, 2019
• Online Publication Date: Dec 10, 2019
• Publication Date: May 1, 2020
• Deposit Date: Dec 10, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 10, 2020
• Journal: International journal of Orthopaedic and Trauma Nursing
• Print ISSN: 1878-1241
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Volume: 37
• Pages: 100749
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijotn.2019.100749
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijotn.2019.100749
• Related Public URLs: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/international-journal-of-orthopaedic-and-trauma-nursing