PONE-D-24-11129Mortality among Trauma Patients at Livingstone University Teaching Hospital: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional StudyPLOS ONE

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Rayan Jafnan Alharbi, Ph.D

Academic Editor

PLOS ONE

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Additional Editor Comments:

Thank you for submitting your work to PLOS ONE journal. I invite you to revise the manuscript, taking into consideration the reviewers' and editor's comments as described below.

Introduction:

Please provide an overview of the existing literature on the burden of traumatic injuries in Zambia, highlighting key findings from previous studies. Emphasize how the current research adds new insights or addresses gaps in the literature to differentiate it from earlier work.

Method:

Data from Accident & Emergency Department File Records:

Please provide more detailed information about the data extracted from the Accident & Emergency Department records. Specifically, how many records were available initially, and how was the sample size narrowed down to the final 956 patients? Clarify the inclusion/exclusion criteria and sampling methods used. Also, describe the types of variables typically recorded in these files—are they part of a trauma registry? Additionally, explain who was involved in the data collection process (e.g., trained medical personnel, research assistants).

Livingstone University Teaching Hospital Information:

Include more detailed information about the Livingstone University Teaching Hospital. Specifically, mention the hospital's total bed capacity, the number of beds in the Emergency Department (ED), and an estimate of the total number of trauma patients seen by the hospital, either monthly or annually.

Combining Sections:

Please remove the subtitle "Operational Definition" and merge its contents into a single paragraph under the "Data Collection and Study Procedures" section for a more streamlined presentation.

Extending Statistical Analysis:

Expand the "Statistical Analysis" section by providing more details about the statistical tests, methods, and software used. Describe the analysis process more comprehensively, including how different variables were analyzed and what criteria were used to assess statistical significance.

Results:

Please extend the second part of the results section, particularly focusing on Table 2, by providing more detailed analysis and interpretation of the data presented. This should include insights into key variables, statistical significance, and any notable trends observed in the study.

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Reviewers' comments:

Reviewer's Responses to Questions

Comments to the Author

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Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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2. Has the statistical analysis been performed appropriately and rigorously?

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: No

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Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: No

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5. Review Comments to the Author

Please use the space provided to explain your answers to the questions above. You may also include additional comments for the author, including concerns about dual publication, research ethics, or publication ethics. (Please upload your review as an attachment if it exceeds 20,000 characters)

Reviewer #1: The authors present a manuscript describing an estimate of the proportion of deaths among trauma patients at a hospital in Zambia. Overall, the manuscript will make a contribution to the field. A few suggestions to improve clarity:

Methods:

page 3: Operational Definition: more detail is needed describing injury type examined and injury settings examined. For example, for the term "various body parts", specifics are needed on what you examined and injury course i.e.home, etc.

Discussion

Page 9: The sentence "The possible explanation for this trend in our setting ..." Do you have any evidence to support this point?

Reviewer #2: It is suggested to modify the title of the article as follows.

Prevalence of mortality caused by injuries at Livingstone University Hospital, Zambia.A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study

Table 1 and 2 are very large, it is better to follow the format of the journal.

In Table 2, the currency is written, what does the word "m" mean, if this word is necessary, it must be defined.

Reference 2 has no year. Please correct it as fallows.

Paul B, Sinha D, Misra R, Basu M, Ray S. Physical injury: Is it inevitable or preventable? an experience from a Tertiary Care Hospital of Kolkata, West Bengal. Medical Journal of Dr. DY Patil University. 2017 Nov 1;10(6):568-72.

Reference 6 is very old, please update it.

The article needs grammar editing.

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Reviewer #1: No

Reviewer #2: No

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Prevalence of mortality caused by injuries at Livingstone University Hospital, Zambia. A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study

PONE-D-24-11129R1

Dear Dr. Siame,

We’re pleased to inform you that your manuscript has been judged scientifically suitable for publication and will be formally accepted for publication once it meets all outstanding technical requirements.

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Kind regards,

Rayan Jafnan Alharbi, Ph.D

Academic Editor

PLOS ONE

Additional Editor Comments (optional):

Reviewers' comments: