Trauma Quality Programs Participant Use File

Trauma Quality Programs (TQP) research data may be used for informational and research purposes with approval from the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma (COT). To request access to the TQP Participant Use File (PUF), applicants must complete the online data application below and agree to the applicable Terms and Conditions. TQP PUF data may be used only for the specific project described in the approved application and may not be linked to other datasets.

Before applying, applicants are strongly encouraged to review the resources available below, including the TQP PUF Appropriate Use Recommendations, TQP PUF Application Guide, and the TQP PUF User Manuals, to ensure the requested data align with study needs and application requirements.

The TQP PUF is the primary research dataset for trauma research at the ACS and replaces previously offered datasets, including the NTDB Research Dataset (RDS), the NTDB National Sample Program (NSP), and the Trauma Quality Improvement Program (TQIP) PUF.

About the TQP PUF

The TQP PUF contains all records submitted to the TQP for a specified admission year.
Includes data on pediatric and adult patients from Level I, II, III, IV, V, and undesignated trauma centers.
Standard TQP PUF: The base research dataset and default option for most trauma studies. The standard TQP PUF costs $1,100 per admission year and is eligible for the TQIP participation discount for qualified centers. To receive this discount, applicants must follow the steps outlined in the TQP PUF Application Guide below.
TQP PUF Facility Keys: Optional add-on products that include de-identified facility aggregators to support analyses requiring patient grouping by facility. The TQP PUF Facility Keys cost $220 per admission year and are not eligible for the TQIP participation discount.
PUF admission years 2007 through 2024 are currently available.
- “Repeated Use” products in the Requested Data Set section are available only for projects reusing previously approved TQP datasets and do not include delivery of new data.
- Any project requiring access to TQP datasets must select the applicable TQP PUF product year(s) when completing the application. If only “Repeated Use” products ($0) are selected, no data will be delivered upon approval.
Not all data elements defined in the NTDS Data Dictionary are available in the TQP PUF. For a complete list of available variables by admission year, please refer to the PUF User Manuals.
All potential recipients of the dataset must apply. Applicants can expect a response within 10 business days of submitting their application.

Apply for the TQP Participant Use File

Resources

TQP PUF Appropriate Use Recommendations

TQP PUF Application Guide

TQP PUF User Manual 2007–2016

TQP PUF User Manual 2017-2024

Samples of the structure of the TQP PUF: 2016 | 2017 | 2024

External Cause of Injury Matrix and Trauma Type Map - For information on TQP mapping of trauma types to ICD-10-CM Cause Codes, this resource outlines the assignment and rationale for injuries based on their mechanism, including motor vehicle accidents, firearms, suffocation, and falls.

TQP Bibliography

PUF Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TQP PUF?

The ACS Trauma Quality Programs (TQP) releases an annual research dataset called the TQP Participant Use File (PUF). The TQP PUF contains all records submitted by our participating trauma centers for specified admission years. This includes data submitted for pediatric and adult trauma patients from Level I, II, II, IV, V or undesignated trauma centers. This dataset is best suited for quantitative analysis of collected data.

What data are included are included in the TQP PUF?

The TQP PUF is a set of relational tables containing elements as defined by the National Trauma Data Standard (NTDS) for each respective admission year. It is strongly recommended that anyone using the TQP PUF consults the NTDS for each admission year involved in their research to ensure familiarity with data definitions and to understand how those definitions may have shifted across years.

Additionally, not all data elements collected using the NTDS are available in the TQP PUF. For a complete list of data elements available in each year of the TQP PUF, please review the TQP PUF User Manual found on the TQP PUF homepage.

How can I access the TQP PUF for my project or study?

Access to the TQP PUF is granted through our online data application located on the TQP PUF homepage. All applicants agree to the TQP PUF Data Use Agreement, complete the online data application, and receive approval from the ACS TQP before PUF access is granted.

How long does it take to receive an update once I’ve submitted my TQP PUF application?

You can expect to hear a decision regarding your application within 10-15 business days of a submitted application.

How much does the TQP PUF cost? Are there any discounts available for researchers?

The TQP PUF costs $1,100 per admission year of data. If your TQP PUF application is approved, you will receive an email from our application system with instructions on how to pay for your requested data.

However, the PUF is free for researchers at trauma centers which participate in the Trauma Quality Improvement Program (TQIP). To receive this discount, please follow the instructions provided in the “Directions for Ordering” document found in the Resources section of the TQP PUF homepage. Please note that the TQIP participation discount is applied once your application is approved. Therefore, you will see an initial order balance when submitting your request for TQP PUF dataset(s).

TQP PUF Facility Keys, a facility-level indicator allowing for the grouping of patients by facility, are also available for request. If your request is approved, these data cost $220 per admission year. Please note that the TQIP participation discount does not apply to TQP PUF Facility Keys.

There are no other discounts available for potential TQP PUF applicants.

Can I access the TQP PUF files before paying to ensure they meet the needs of my study?

Applicants should review the appropriate TQP PUF User Manuals and NTDS Data Dictionary to understand available data elements before submitting their application. Access to the TQP PUF is granted only after payment is received, however, sample structures of the TQP PUF are available for download and review on the TQP PUF homepage.

Are there any inappropriate projects or limitations with using the TQP PUF?

Inappropriate TQP PUF projects may include:

Making national estimates - The PUFs represent trauma center participation in our programs, and while that participation is broad, it isn’t necessarily representative of the national level.
Linking to external datasets - Probabilistically linking PUF data to external datasets is strictly prohibited as stated in the TQP PUF Data Use Agreement
Geographical analyses - Although collected by the NTDS, geographical variables such as State and Zip Code are not provided in the TQP PUF.
Seasonal differences - As the TQP PUF is a de-identified dataset under HIPAA, specific dates/times collected using the NTDS are not provided in the dataset. Instead, the ACS TQP provides calculated time-to variables directly in the dataset (e.g., Time to Hospital Procedure Start, Trauma Surgeon Arrival, VTE Prophylaxis, etc.).

Can I use my acquired TQP PUFs for additional studies beyond what was originally submitted in my application?

Access to the TQP PUF is project-based, as stated in the TQP PUF Data Use Agreement completed during the application process. Therefore, each new study would require its own PUF application to be submitted and approved before any formal work can begin. Please be sure to select the “TQP Participant Use File – Repeated Use All Years” product when completing any TQP PUF re-use applications. This Repeated Use product is listed for researchers who already have the TQP PUF but are starting a new study utilizing these data, which is why the associated product has a $0 value. If you purchased the TQP PUF, you won’t have to pay for those years again if re-using the data.