• Anne Neubert, Sebastian Hempe, Carina Jaekel, Catharina Gaeth, Christopher Spering, Katharina Fetz, Joachim Windolf, Erwin Kollig, Dan Bieler, and LeAf-Trauma-Group.
• Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, University Hospital and Medical, Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf, Moorenstraße 5, Duesseldorf 40225, Germany.
• Injury. 2024 Oct 16: 111938111938.

BackgroundSurvivors of a major trauma experience a range of difficulties in relation to the reduction in physical, psychosocial, and cognitive functions, which can result in a reduced health-related quality of life. This study aims to explore lived experiences of major trauma survivors in the German healthcare system.MethodsSemi-structured exploratory interviews were performed with nine major trauma survivors (18-55 years; Injury Severity Score ≥16). For exploratory analyses, an artificial intelligence-based coding software was used. Further, results were clustered by using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health framework (ICF).ResultsCommunication was one of the major topics concerning amongst others diverting opinions between different healthcare disciplines and a general lack of information. The participants showed a high demand for a contact person. Furthermore, social support was essential during recovery for those interviewed. Social network was not only important as emotional and physical support but also for overcoming of gaps in the healthcare system. The support by employers and colleagues seemed to be beneficial for our participants in relation to returning to work. Further, psychological consequences of trauma, and that mobility is a key factor for quality of life, self-efficacy and return to work were discussed.DiscussionThe qualitative analyses highlight several topics such as communication, burden of sickness, support systems that the participants mentioned as important along their journey through the German healthcare system during recovery. Through the ICF model the interplay of certain components that influenced the outcome of the major trauma survivors was visualized.ImplicationsThese results might offer a deepened understanding of modifiable components of a patient pathway in recovery process such as improvements of patient communication, provision of a contact person and others.Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

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