TY - JOUR T1 - Three Es of linked injury data: Episodes, Encounters and Events JF - Injury Prevention JO - Inj Prev DO - 10.1136/injuryprev-2020-044098 SP - injuryprev-2020-044098 AU - Kirsten Vallmuur AU - Victoria McCreanor AU - Cate Cameron AU - Angela Watson AU - Rania Shibl AU - Shahera Banu AU - Steven M McPhail AU - Jacelle Warren Y1 - 2021/04/28 UR - http://injuryprevention.bmj.com/content/early/2021/04/27/injuryprev-2020-044098.abstract N2 - Background Treatment and recovery times following injury can be lengthy, comprising multiple interactions with the hospital system for initial acute care, subsequent rehabilitation and possible re-presentation due to complications.Aims This article aims to promote the use of consistent terminology in injury data linkage studies, suggest important factors to consider when managing linked injury data, and encourage thorough documentation and a robust discourse around different approaches to data management to ensure reproducibility, consistency and comparability of analyses arising from linked injury data.Approach This paper is presented in sections describing: (1) considerations for identifying injury cohorts, (2) considerations for grouping Episodes into Encounters and (3) considerations for grouping Encounters into Events. Summary tools are provided to aid researchers in the management of linked injury data.Discussion Careful consideration of decisions made when identifying injury cohorts and grouping data into units of analysis (Episodes/Encounters/Events) is essential when using linked injury data. Choices made have the potential to significantly impact the epidemiological and clinical findings derived from linked injury data studies, which ultimately affect the quality of injury prevention initiatives and injury management policy and practice. It is intended that this paper will act as a call to action for injury linkage methodologists, and those using linked data, to critique approaches, share tools and engage in a robust discourse to further advance the use of linked injury data, and ultimately enhance the value of linked injury data for clinicians and health and social policymakers.Data may be obtained from a third party and are not publicly available. ER -