This study fills a major knowledge gap on medical procedure overuse in acute injury care. Results will inform research priorities and the development of metrics to measure overuse. This knowledge will provide a solid basis for the development of interventions targeting de-implementation, such as clinical decision rules and shared decision making tools. This has the potential to decrease costs, increase resource availability, and reduce mortality and morbidity due to unnecessary tests and treatments and reduce patient stress and physicians’ workload.

This study represents a rigorous, exhaustive review of the literature on low-value clinical practices in injury care. Results from our scoping review are supported by a consultation study with 36 experts representing the clinical specialties involved in trauma care on three continents.

The participation rate of over 90% demonstrates the high level of knowledge-user interest in this topic. In addition, experts are all involved in clinical research in acute injury care so are likely to have good knowledge of the evidence-base on clinical practices for injury admissions.

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