Trauma Quality Programs Participant Use File
Trauma Quality Programs research data may be used for informational and research purposes with approval from the ACS Committee on Trauma (COT). If you would like to use the TQP PUF for your analysis, you must complete our online data application below and agree to our Terms and Conditions. TQP PUF data are to be used exclusively for the project described in your request and are not to be linked to other datasets.
The TQP PUF is now the representative dataset for trauma research at the ACS. This PUF replaces the trauma datasets previously offered to researchers including the NTDB Research Dataset, the NTDB National Sample Program, and the Trauma Quality Improvement Program (TQIP) Participant Use File (PUF).
About the TQP PUF
- The TQP PUF contains all records sent to NTDB for specified admission years
- Includes data submitted on pediatric and adult patients from Level I, II, III, IV, V or undesignated trauma centers
- Please note that the standard TQP PUF does not contain facility aggregators (a facility-level indicator allowing for the grouping of patients by facility). If you require these data for your project, please request the TQP PUF Facility Key products when completing your TQP PUF application. Additionally, the TQIP participation discount does not apply to TQP PUF Facility Key products.
- The TQP PUF costs $1000 per admission year of data requested
- The TQP PUF is a program deliverable for trauma centers that participate in the Trauma Quality Improvement Program (TQIP) and as such, representatives from those trauma centers will not be required to pay this fee. To receive this discount, please follow the steps outlined in the Directions for Ordering Participant Use File document located below.
- Admission years 2007 through 2023 are currently available
- Not all data elements collected in the NTDS Data Dictionary are available in the TQP PUF. For a complete list of TQP data elements available in each year of the dataset, please review the User Manual.
- All potential recipients of the dataset must complete an application. You can expect to hear a response on your application within 15 business days of a completed application.
Resources
TQP PUF Appropriate Use Recommendations
Directions for Ordering Participant Use File
Samples of the structure of the TQP PUF: 2016 | 2017
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.
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 $1,000 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 $200 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.