S. Finazzi, G. Paci, L. Antiga, O. Brissy, G. Carrara, D. Crespi, G. Csato, A. Csomos, O. Duek, S. Facchinetti, J. Fleming, E. Garbero, M. Gianni, P. Gradisek, R. Kaps, T. Kyprianou, I. Lazar, M. Mikaszewska-Sokolewicz, M. Mondini, G. Nattino, C. Olivieri, D. Poole, C. Previtali, D. Radrizzani, C. Rossi, S. Skurzak, M. Tavola, N. Xirouchaki, GiViTI-PROSAFE collaboration: Iraklis Kyriakidis Bertolini G., Palazis Lakis, Nicolaou Eleni, Georgopoulos Dimitrios, Pediaditis Emmanouil, Prekates Athanasios, Pnevmatikos Ioannis, Palli Eleni, Ilia Stavroula, Volakakis Evangelos, Hubay Zsolt, Kovács Mihály, Szedlák Balázs, Völgyes Barbara, Duek Or, Knyazer Vera, Adorni Adele, Agnelli Vanessa, Agostini Fulvio, Ajmone-Cat Claudio,
Alampi Daniela, Alborghetti Armando, Alleva Sandra, Azzolini Maurizio, Babini Maria, Bagalini Giampiero, Balicco Bruno, Baratta Alberto, Barbagallo Maria, Bassi Giovanni, Bassi Giovanni, Becarelli Simone, Beck Eduardo, Belgiorno Nicolangela, Bellato Valentina, Bellin Marzia, Bellonzi Alessandra, Belluomo Anello Clara, Bensi Marco, Benvenuto Antonini, Olga Bernasconi Mara, Berruto Francesco, Bertolini Roberta, Besozzi Alessandra, Bianchin Andrea, Bignone Paola, L Boccalatte-Rosa Daniela, Bocchi Anna, Bonaccorso Giuseppina, Bonato Valeria, Alfeo Bonato, Bonazzi Maurizio, Bonizzoli Manuela, Bonucci Paola, Bottazzi Andrea, Brancaleoni Paolo, Breschi Cesare, Brizio Elisabetta, Brunetti Iole, Buonanno Roberto, Caccavale Francesco, Caironi Pietro, Calicchio Giuseppe, A Calò Mauro, Candido Massimo, Caracciolo Adalgisa, Carli Manuela, Caroleo Santo, Casalini Pierpaolo, Casalis Michele, Castiglione Giacomo, Casula Maria, Caviglia Enrica, Ceradelli Marina, Cerana Manuela, Chiani Cristina, Chiarello Marco, Ciani Andrea, Ciceri Rita, G Cigada Marco, Cinque Enrico, Codeluppi Vito, Colombo Rinaldo, Colombo Laura, Colombo Riccardo, Cornara Giuseppe, Cosseta Daniele, Cristiani Claudia, Da Re Dolores, Da Re Dolores, Dal Cero Paolo, Dal Ferro Marino, A De Blasi Roberto, De Blasio Elvio, Decristofaro Maria, Dei Poli Marco, Della Mora Ernesto, Della Selva Andrea, Di Martino Rosalia, Di Masi Pierfrancesco, A Di Pasquale Dino, Doni Lorenzo, C Fabi Maria, Facondini Francesca, Falini Stefano, Falzetti Gabriele, Fanfani Elena, Faraldi Loredana, Ferri Enrico, Fiocca Federico, Fiore Gilberto, Forfori Francesco, Frattari Antonella, Froio Sara, Galbiati Rita, Galeotti Elsa, Gallo Mauro, Gamberini Emiliano, Garelli Alberto, Garioni Silvia, Gatta Alessandro, Giacomello Stefano, Girardini Federico, Girardis Massimo, Giudici Riccardo, Giuntini Romano, Gnesin Paolo, Gonzi Silvia, Gorietti Adonella, Grassi Modestina, Guadagna Antonina, Guagliardi Clementina, D Guarducci Maria, Guerriero Barbara, Lain Giuseppe, Lamborghini Sara, Lefons Ugo, Leggieri Carlo, Gregorio Legnani Martino, Lembo Rita, M Liccardi Marco, M Liverani Chiara, Lombardo Andrea, Lupi Giuseppe, Monica Madeira Susana, Magenta Paolo, Maggiolo Carlo, Malchiodi Laura, Mamprin Filippo, Mannolini Giovanni, Carlo Manzi Renato, Marchesi Gianmariano, Marifoglou Demostene, Marino Giovanni, A Martin Marina, Martinelli Stefano, Martinelli Paolo, Mastroianni Alessandro, S Mediani Teresa, Messina Marianna, Modano Pasqualina, Molesi Andrea, A Monaco Carlo, Morbelli Mario, Morello Gianluigi, Muraro Luisa, Nardin Giordano, Nardini Massimiliano, Negri Giovanni, Negro Giancarlo, L Nucci Maria, C Olivieri Maria, Orsini Ivana, Padovan Lamberto, Palmer Maurizio, Pannacci Riccardo, Papoff Paola, Parlanti Garbero Massimiliano, Parnigotto Alessandra, Parrini Vieri, S Pasetti Giovanni, Pastorini Simonetta, Patrignani Luca, Pedeferri Matteo, Pegoraro Maurizio, Pelati Erika, Pera Laura, Perino Bert Paolo, Pero Alice, Peta Mario, Petrucci Nicola,
BACKGROUND: long-lasting shared research databases are an important source of epidemiological information and can promote comparison between different healthcare services. Here we present ProsaFe, an advanced international research network in intensive care medicine, with the focus on assessing and improving the quality of care. the project involved 343 icUs in seven countries. all patients admitted to the icU were eligible for data collection. MetHoDs: the ProsaFe network collected data using the same electronic case report form translated into the corresponding languages. a complex, multidimensional validation system was implemented to ensure maximum data quality. individual and aggregate reports by country, region, and icU type were prepared annually. a web-based data-sharing system allowed participants to autonomously perform different analyses on both own data and the entire database. RESULTS: The final analysis was restricted to 262 general ICUs and 432,223 adult patients, mostly admitted to Italian units, where a research network had been active since 1991. organization of critical care medicine in the seven countries was relatively similar, in terms of staffing, case mix and procedures, suggesting a common understanding of the role of critical care medicine. conversely, icU equipment differed, and patient outcomes showed wide variations among countries. coNclUsioNs: ProsaFe is a permanent, stable, open access, multilingual database for clinical benchmarking, icU self-evaluation and research within and across countries, which offers a unique opportunity to improve the quality of critical care. its entry into routine clinical practice on a voluntary basis is testimony to the success and viability of the endeavor.
