Impact of novel psychosocial programming on readmission and recidivism rates among patients with violence-related trauma

• NCJ Number: 308041
• Author(s): Natasha M. Simske; Trenton Rivera; Bryan O. Ren; Mary A. Breslin; Ryan Furdock; Heather A. Vallier
• Date Published: 2023
• Length: 10 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute of Justice (NIJ)
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Article appears in Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery (2023) Volume 143, Pages: 7043–7052.

Annotation

This study assesses the impact of the Victims of Crime Advocacy and Recovery Program (VOCARP), which provides advocacy, mental health resources, and educational materials among crime victims who engage with victim services and compares their outcomes with crime victims how did not receive services.

Abstract

This study reports complications, readmissions, and recidivism among crime victims who used or did not use victim services provided by the Victims of Crime Advocacy and Recovery Program (VOCARP), which provides advocacy, mental health resources, and educational materials. The study concludes that crime victims differ from other trauma patients, more often with younger age, single marital status, and unemployment at baseline. Patients engaged with programming from 3/1/17 until 12/31/18 were included. Complications were lower for VOCARP patients. GSW patients had the most complications, readmissions, and unplanned secondary procedures, representing a population for future attention. Control groups were patients injured by violent trauma without VOCARP use (N = 212) and patients injured by unintentional injuries (N = 201). Readmissions, complications, reoperations, and trauma recidivism were reported. 1019 patients (83%) used VOCARP. VOCARP users were less often male (56% vs. 71%), less commonly married (12% vs. 41%), and had fewer gunshot wounds (GSWs, 26% vs. 37%) and sexual assaults (4.1% vs. 8%), all p < 0.05. Of all 1,423 patients, 6.6% had a readmission and 7.4% developed a complication. VOCARP patients had fewer complications (4.5% vs. 13.7%), infections (2% vs. 9%), wound healing problems (1% vs. 3.3%), and deep vein thromboses (0.3% vs. 1.9%), all p < 0.05, but no differences in unplanned operations (4.5%). GSW victims had the most complications, readmissions, and unplanned surgeries. Prior trauma recidivism was frequent among all groups, with crime victim patients having 40% prior violence-related injury (vs 9.0% control, p < 0.0001). Trauma recidivism following VOCARP use occurred in 8.5% (vs 5.7% for non-users, p = 0.16). (Published Abstract Provided)