The NTRR uses common data elements (CDEs) to improve data quality and opportunities for comparison and combination of data from multiple studies. The NTRR CDE Steering Committee is now engaged in an effort to harmonize Trauma Core CDEs (those data elements that will be recommended to be collected in all trauma studies) with the FITBIR Core CDEs to the degree possible, as well as to define Trauma Basic CDEs that will be recommended for studies that fall into specific therapeutic areas (Epidemiology, Prehospital, Acute Care, Rehabilitation/Outcomes).
Importantly, NTRR’s data structure allows researchers to also add Unique Data Elements (UDEs) to the data dictionary for their study and use by other researchers. This will further promote data harmonization across trauma studies.