Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41559754›Full record

ArticleBMC health services research2026

Visualisation of a complex healthcare system: mapping vascular and trauma surgery services in Ghana.

Joachim Amoako, Michael F Bath, Theodore Wordui, Elikem K Ametefe, Alexander Komashie, Katharina Kohler, Mathew Ky Kyei, Tom Bashford, GOAL-Trauma Collaborative Ghana

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in BMC health services research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Patterns of negative trauma laparotomy worldwide: a sub-analysis of a global dataset.European journal of trauma and emergency surgery : official publication of the European Trauma Society · 2026
    Observational
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Joachim Amoako *University of Ghana Medical School, Accra, Ghana. joaamoako@ug.edu.gh.
Michael F Bath *International Health Systems Group, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
Theodore WorduiDepartment of Surgery, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana.
Elikem K AmetefeDepartment of Surgery, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana.
Alexander KomashieInternational Health Systems Group, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
Katharina KohlerInternational Health Systems Group, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
Mathew Ky KyeiUniversity of Ghana Medical School, Accra, Ghana.
Tom BashfordInternational Health Systems Group, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
GOAL-Trauma Collaborative Ghana

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundProviding comprehensive vascular and trauma care requires a functional surgical system, but these can often be complex. To better understand this system complexity, we aimed to develop multiple visualisation techniques, combining qualitative and quantitative data, using vascular and trauma surgery services in Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Ghana, as a case study.

methodsData collection was undertaken through a mixed methods approach. Qualitative data was generated from workshops on vascular and trauma care, and quantitative data was derived from observational data on trauma laparotomy patients collected as part of a larger multi-centre study. Visualisation tools were used to represent the varying aspects of the data obtained, each refined through an iterative process with local healthcare professionals.

resultsFive separate data visualisations were generated: Directed Acyclic Graphs, Swimlane Diagrams, Data Flow Diagrams, Parallel Coordinate Maps, and Sankey Diagrams.These were chosen to illustrate key areas of clinical interest.

conclusionsThe use of multiple visualisation techniques based on mixed data allows for the complexity of a healthcare system to be appreciated. Such visualisations can support a range of further research and improvement efforts to strengthen healthcare systems and improve patient outcomes, even in lower resource settings. A complex system cannot be visualised in one map and the use of multiple visualisations can provide a more comprehensive understanding of a healthcare system.

Indexed as

Delivery of Health CareVascular Surgical ProceduresWounds and InjuriesGhanaHospitals, TeachingHumansGhanaGlobal surgeryHealth systemsTraumaVascular

Identifiers

PMID41559754
PMCPMC12903557

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.