Visualisation of a complex healthcare system: mapping vascular and trauma surgery services in Ghana.
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Springer Nature
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-13982-1
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-13982-1
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Acknowledgements: We are grateful to all the patients who participated in this study for supporting our endeavour to improve trauma care standards globally. We are also grateful to Cambridge Global Health Partnerships and the Global Health pillar of Cambridge Public Health for supporting this work. GOAL-Trauma Collaborative Ghana George Aryee2, Antoinette Bowan2, Philemon Kumassah2, Nii Adu-Aryee2, Narious Naalene2, Florence Dedey2, Josephine Nsaful2, Senyo Gudugbe9, Francis Quenin9, Emmanuel Acquah9, Iddrisu Tidoo Abdull-Karim9, Collins Takyi9, Martin Tangnaa Morna10, Oluwayemisi Ekor10, Ganiyu Adebisi Rahman10, Michael Nortey10, Richard Ogirma Baidoo10, Mabel Amoako-Boateng10, Donald Tweneboah Enti10, Kwasi Agyen-Mensah10, Elizabeth Quartson10, Thomas Agyen10, Emmanuel Owusu Ofori10, Philip Mensah10, Vincent Kudoh10, Douglas Arthur10, Patrick Maison10, Emmanuel Yeboah Gyabaah11, Faustin Awinbilla Akum11, Frank Owusu11, Nelson Kosi Affram12, Daniel Tamatey12, Hakeem Seidu-Aroza12
Publication status: Published
BACKGROUND: Providing comprehensive vascular and trauma care requires a functional surgical system, but these can often be complex. To better understand this system complexity, we aimed to develop multiple visualisation techniques, combining qualitative and quantitative data, using vascular and trauma surgery services in Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Ghana, as a case study. METHODS: Data collection was undertaken through a mixed methods approach. Qualitative data was generated from workshops on vascular and trauma care, and quantitative data was derived from observational data on trauma laparotomy patients collected as part of a larger multi-centre study. Visualisation tools were used to represent the varying aspects of the data obtained, each refined through an iterative process with local healthcare professionals. RESULTS: Five separate data visualisations were generated: Directed Acyclic Graphs, Swimlane Diagrams, Data Flow Diagrams, Parallel Coordinate Maps, and Sankey Diagrams.These were chosen to illustrate key areas of clinical interest. CONCLUSIONS: The use of multiple visualisation techniques based on mixed data allows for the complexity of a healthcare system to be appreciated. Such visualisations can support a range of further research and improvement efforts to strengthen healthcare systems and improve patient outcomes, even in lower resource settings. A complex system cannot be visualised in one map and the use of multiple visualisations can provide a more comprehensive understanding of a healthcare system.
Publication status: Published
BACKGROUND: Providing comprehensive vascular and trauma care requires a functional surgical system, but these can often be complex. To better understand this system complexity, we aimed to develop multiple visualisation techniques, combining qualitative and quantitative data, using vascular and trauma surgery services in Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Ghana, as a case study. METHODS: Data collection was undertaken through a mixed methods approach. Qualitative data was generated from workshops on vascular and trauma care, and quantitative data was derived from observational data on trauma laparotomy patients collected as part of a larger multi-centre study. Visualisation tools were used to represent the varying aspects of the data obtained, each refined through an iterative process with local healthcare professionals. RESULTS: Five separate data visualisations were generated: Directed Acyclic Graphs, Swimlane Diagrams, Data Flow Diagrams, Parallel Coordinate Maps, and Sankey Diagrams.These were chosen to illustrate key areas of clinical interest. CONCLUSIONS: The use of multiple visualisation techniques based on mixed data allows for the complexity of a healthcare system to be appreciated. Such visualisations can support a range of further research and improvement efforts to strengthen healthcare systems and improve patient outcomes, even in lower resource settings. A complex system cannot be visualised in one map and the use of multiple visualisations can provide a more comprehensive understanding of a healthcare system.