Abstract
Study design
Narrative review.
Background
Neurotrauma has a considerable impact on healthcare, the economy, and human resources worldwide. In Iran, young males are especially vulnerable, with road traffic accidents (RTAs) being the major cause. Evaluating prehospital care systems is critical for detecting shortcomings and implementing improvements. This study seeks to evaluate the prehospital neurotrauma care procedure in Iran, highlighting its strengths and flaws.
Method
We searched PubMed and Scopus databases for literature on the present condition of prehospital neurotrauma care in Iran. Consultations with an expert panel yielded additional material not previously available in the literature, particularly on Iran’s emergency medical system.
Results
Our findings indicate that the emergency dispatch system in Iran is relatively well-managed, regardless of the lack of a single emergency contact number. However, major obstacles still exist, particularly in terms of human resources, training, and equipment availability. Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) have intermediate to poor levels of knowledge and skills in dealing with neurotrauma, which might be considerably improved by ongoing training programs. Furthermore, Iranian hospitals lack specific trauma center designations and levels, resulting in overcrowded emergency rooms and delayed care delivery. National neurotrauma guidelines have been adopted in recent years, although their compliance is not consistently monitored.
Conclusion
Compared to developed healthcare systems, Iran’s prehospital treatment system for individuals with neurotrauma has considerable limitations. Improving EMT education, recruiting more trained professionals, and simultaneous improvement of current medical facilities should be addressed as the first steps toward better care.
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Acknowledgements
Special thanks to the expert panel members Dr. Gholamreza Masoumi (Iran’s former chief of emergency), Dr. Hadi Mirfazaelian (head of Prehospital and Hospital Emergency Research Center), Dr. Mohammad Jalili (head of Health Professions Education Research Center), and Dr. Kamal Basiri (Ministry of Health’s head of Emergency Administration).
Funding
This study was supported by Sina Trauma and Surgery Research Center, Sina hospital, Tehran, Iran.
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VR presented the idea for this study along with supervising it and revising the manuscript. MH contributed to searching and reviewing the literature, writing the manuscript, generating the figures, and interviewing the expert panel. MSHZT contributed to writing and editing the manuscript.
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Hajiqasemi, M., Hassan Zadeh Tabatabaei, M.S. & Rahimi-Movaghar, V. Evaluation of prehospital care for neurotrauma in Iran. Spinal Cord 63, 51–57 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41393-024-01054-w
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41393-024-01054-w
