Trauma patients’ perspectives on the needs, understanding and usefulness of personalized predictions for life after injury: a qualitative interview study using thematic analysis

To explore trauma patients’ perspectives on the need, understanding and usefulness of personalized predictions after injury to assist in rehabilitation. We performed semi-structured online interviews. Participants (<i>N</i> = 30 trauma patients, admitted to the hospital for an injury in the past 5 years) were exposed to a support tool that provides personalized predictions on recovery after injury. Interview data were transcribed verbatim and thematically analyzed. Four themes were identified. Patients expressed (1) a need for personal information and felt that information about recovery was lacking. The most important (2) reasons for needing to receive personalized predictions were reassurance and managing expectations. However, (3) understanding the prediction model was challenging. Patients expressed receiving relatively poor predictions would not undermine (4) usefulness in practice, as they would rather know about what life has in store for them so they can prepare for life after injury better. Trauma patients have a need for receiving personalized predictions as they perceive them to be a useful addition to clinical practice. Understanding such predictions might be challenging, so more time should be spent on how these can be communicated. Trauma patients often experience a lack of information after discharge, a support tool providing personalized risk information could help fill that void.Personalized predictions and advice could help reassure trauma patients and help them to better plan their life.Patient materials should, where possible, contain more personalized numerical information about life after injury. Trauma patients often experience a lack of information after discharge, a support tool providing personalized risk information could help fill that void. Personalized predictions and advice could help reassure trauma patients and help them to better plan their life. Patient materials should, where possible, contain more personalized numerical information about life after injury.