Enhancing Trauma Research: A Marathon, Not a Sprint

When I was the research director for a Level I trauma program, one of the lead physicians would often burst into my office with an idea. "I have an idea for a research project. It will be quick and easy!"

After a while, the phrase "quick and easy" became a running joke. He discovered that, alas, nothing is quick or easy in the world of research.

When advising clients on trauma research programs, I caution them that the timeline for producing a single research paper is typically 1-2 years. This timeline measures the time from idea conception to acceptance for publication. Each step takes months. Often, the longest phase—submitting to journals and waiting for acceptance—is largely out of your control. And you need to do that for 10 individual papers.

Over the years, I have not found a way to make research "quick and easy." However, several strategies can help a research program operate more efficiently.

Constantly Develop Papers

First, a research program must constantly have papers in all stages of development. The program will get bogged down if they are writing four papers at the same time, for example, or if all the projects are waiting on IRB review. A Gantt chart is a helpful way to stagger and plan for research phases on multiple papers.

Design for Multiple Outputs

Second, wise study design and data collection should generate multiple papers. The biggest inefficiency arises from a single data collection effort that results in only one paper. A research team must think broadly about multiple hypotheses and ensure they collect all necessary data in one effort.

Understand the Acceptance Timeline

Third, do not underestimate how long it can take to get a paper accepted. Higher quality journals often have paid staff and are more efficient in their turnaround (i.e., rejecting papers quickly). However, the review cycle for journals with lower impact factors can sometimes drag on for months. In a single research cycle, for example, a research team should plan for each paper taking an average of 6 months in the journal review/revision phase.

Keep the Team on Track

Fourth, hound the study team to stay on track. Physicians and trauma staff have many competing priorities. By the nature of their work, they often focus on the next task or biggest emergency. It’s easy to lose track of time, making a delay of several days turn into a delay of several weeks. Research coordinators must be firm in setting deadlines but also kind in how they issue reminders. Never forget you are doing work in a trauma center: if your researchers are also providers, they are literally busy saving lives. At times, they may be unable to participate in research due to stress, exhaustion, and burnout.

Encourage Participation in Trauma Research

Fifth, don't let the research process intimidate people out of participating. While your hospital must have staff well-versed in research and able to carry projects, many opportunities exist for new people to get involved and share their skills and expertise. For example, a trauma surgeon may not have an interest in writing a paper but might be very willing to sit with a writer and share their thoughts and insights. Or perhaps you have a team of people who are willing to pull variables from the chart during their downtime. Remember, very few researchers actually self-identify as Researchers!

Continuous Progress

Sixth, a research program never stops. There is no time off when the 10th publication is accepted. By the time of ACS verification, you should already have several papers in progress or even accepted for the next cycle.

Conclusion: Embrace the Journey

In summary, trauma research is a marathon, not a sprint. It requires patience, planning, and perseverance. By implementing these strategies, you can enhance the efficiency of your research program and ultimately improve patient outcomes. Remember, the journey may be long, but the results are worth it.

For more insights on trauma program development, check out Diligent Consulting.