Factors influencing consistency of triage using the Australasian Triage Scale: Implications for guideline development

Objective: To examine the influence of the nurse, the type of patient presentation and the level of hospital service on consistency of triage using the Australasian Triage Scale. Methods: A secondary analysis of survey data was conducted. The main study was undertaken to measure the reliability of 237 scenarios for inclusion in a national training programme. Nurses were recruited from a quota sample of Australian ED according to peer group. Analysis was performed to determine concordance: the percentage of responses in the modal triage category. Analysis of variance (anova ) and Pearson correlations were used to investigate associations between the explanatory variables and concordance. Results: A total of 42/50 (84%) participants returned questionnaires, providing 9946 scenario responses for analysis. Significant differences in concordance were observed by variables describing the type of patient presentation and level of urgency. Mean scores for the comparison group (adult pain; 70.7%) were higher than the groups involving a mental health or pregnancy presentations (61.4%; P≤ 0.001; 65.0%; P= 0.02). Modal responses at the extreme ends of the scale were higher than in the middle categories (P≤ 0.001). There was a significant main effect on concordance by type of service according to peer group (P= 0.03). Of the nine variables that described nurse characteristics, age was the only factor to influence the outcome (P= 0.05). Conclusion: We identified significant problems with the consistency of triage for mental health and pregnancy presentations. Further research is needed to improve the guidelines on the implementation of the Australasian Triage Scale for these populations.     

Triage in emergency departments: national survey

Aim. This paper reports a study the aim of which was to describe how triage‐related work was organized and performed in Swedish emergency departments. Background. Hospitals in many developed countries use some kind of system to prioritize the patients attending emergency departments. Triage is a commonly used term to refer to the process of sorting and prioritizing patients for care. How the triage procedure is organized and which personnel perform this type of work vary considerably throughout the world. In Sweden, few studies have explored this important issue. Method. A national survey was conducted using telephone interviews, with nurse managers at each of the emergency departments. The sample represented 87% of emergency departments in Sweden. Results. The findings clearly illustrate the organization of emergency department triage, focusing on personnel who perform triage, as well as the facilities, resources and procedures available for triage. However, the results indicate that work associated with such triage in Sweden is not organized in any consistent matter. In 81% of the emergency departments a clerk, Licensed Practical Nurse or Registered Nurse were assigned to assess patients not arriving by ambulance. There was also diversity in other areas, including requirements for staff to have particular qualifications and clinical experience for being allocated to triage work, as well as facilities for triage personnel assessing and prioritizing patients. The use of triage scales and acuity ratings also lacked uniformity and disparities were observed in both the design and use of triage scales. A little less than half (46%) of the emergency departments did not use any kind of triage scale to document patient acuity ratings. Conclusion. In contrast to several other countries, this study shows that Swedish emergency departments do not adhere well to established standards and guidelines about triage in emergency care. Research on emergency department triage, especially in the areas of personnel performing triage, triage scales and standards and guidelines are recommended. Relevance to clinical practice. The diversity among several aspects of nursing triage (e.g. use of less qualified personnel performing triage, the use of different triage scales) presented in the study points to a safety risk for the patients. It also shows the need of further education for the personnel in clinical practice as well as further research on triage in order to gain national consensus about this nursing task.     

Medical Emergency Triage and Treatment System (METTS): a new protocol in primary triage and secondary priority decision in emergency medicine

Background: In many Emergency Department (ED) triage scoring systems, vital signs are not included as an assessment parameter. Objectives: To evaluate the validity of a new protocol for Emergency Medicine in a large cohort of patients referred to in-hospital care. Methods: From January 1 to June 30, 2006, 22,934 patients were admitted to the ED at Sahlgrenska University Hospital. Of those, 8695 were referred to in-hospital care and included in the study. A new five-level triage tool, combining vital signs, symptoms, and signs in the triage decision, was used. A small control of the inter-rater disagreement was also performed in 132 parallel, single-blinded observations. Results: Fifty percent of the patients were admitted by ambulance and the other 50% by walk-in. Hospital stay was significantly (p < 0.001) longer in those admitted by ambulance (9.3 ± 14 days) as compared with walk-in patients (6.2 ± 10 days). In-hospital mortality incidence was higher (8.1%) in patients admitted by ambulance, as compared with walk-in patients (2.4%). Hospital stay and in-hospital mortality increased with higher level of priority. In the highest priority groups, 32–53% of the patients were downgraded to a lower priority level after primary treatment. Conclusion: In the present study, the METTS protocol was shown to be a reliable triage method and a sensitive tool for secondary re-evaluation of the patient in the ED.     

Education to improve the triage of mental health patients in general hospital emergency departments

General hospital emergency departments (EDs) are obvious places for individuals in distress or in a mental health crisis to seek assistance. However, triage nurses admit to a lack of expertise and confidence in psychiatric assessment which can result in less accurate assessments than for medical or trauma presentations. The objectives of a collaborative project between an Adult Mental Health Program and an Adult Emergency Program in a Canadian regional health authority were to: provide education and training to triage nurses regarding mental health and illness; monitor the transit of mental health patients through the ED; monitor wait times; and determine the adequacy of the Canadian Triage Acuity and Assessment Scale in the triage of psychiatric presentations. Although the percentages of patients triaged as "emergent" did not change as a result of the education, the percentage of patients who were triaged as "not urgent" but required hospitalization was significantly reduced. Although average lengths of stay in the ED were also reduced after the education, this may or may not have been related to the educational sessions. The project was successful in increasing collaboration between the two departments and has resulted in enhanced, on-going mental health education for ED nurses.     

改良澳大利亚拣伤评分系统在急诊科拣伤救治中的应用及效果评价

目的评价改良澳大利亚拣伤评分系统在急诊批量创伤患者评估分类中的应用效果。方法按时间先后顺序将178例批量创伤患者分为对照组87例和观察组91例。对照组按照传统方法拣伤分类,观察组应用改良澳大利亚拣伤评分系统评估分类。比较两组拣伤分类时间、分拣准确率、抢救成功率、护士对分类方法满意度和患者/家属对抢救工作满意度。结果观察组评估分类时间低于对照组(P0.01);分拣准确率、抢救成功率(P0.05)、护士对分类方法满意度和患者/家属对抢救工作满意度均高于对照组(P0.01)。结论改良澳大利亚拣伤评分系统能快速准确评估伤情,指导急诊抢救治疗工作,提高抢救效率和成功率,值得在急诊科推广应用。     

急诊分诊的研究现状

通过分析国内外急诊分诊的差异,提出应借鉴国外的经验,采用较好的分诊标准和工具,改进国内的分诊工作,对患者的病情做出更准确的判断,改善护患关系,避免纠纷的发生,降低医疗风险。     

我国二级及以上医院急诊分诊依据现状调查

目的调查国内急诊分诊执行情况及分诊依据的现状。方法采用自制调查问卷,对国内113所医院的274名急诊科护士进行急诊分诊执行情况及分诊依据现状的调查。结果目前急诊分诊护士要求不统一,急诊分诊标准存在不足,急诊分诊护士现有培训不能满足临床需要。结论我国在急诊分诊护士培养和急诊分诊标准的建立等方面尚不完善,建立统一规范的分诊标准和专职分诊护士将成为急诊分诊发展的趋势。     

The Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale: A Canadian perspective on emergency department triage

The Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale has received widespread acceptance in Canada as a reliable and valid tool for emergency department triage. The importance of accurate triage becomes more apparent as emergency department volumes increase, and resources shrink. The need to ensure that those patients requiring more urgent care receive care first is the basis for all triage scales. Through the Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale National Working Group, the scale became the recommended triage tool for Canadian emergency departments. Work has been done on the interrater reliability of Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale among health care providers. There is a need to further assess the validity of the scale. This scale has now been applied in the out of hospital setting by paramedics and is being used in measurements of emergency physician workload. The future may see an electronic triage tool develop for emergency department use to reduce variability in its application. The Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale has become an integral component of Canadian emergency departments.     

急诊分诊管理的研究进展

院内急救是急诊医疗服务中的复杂而又非常重要的中间环节,是完善急诊救治链的重要环节。在急诊医学飞速发展的今天,预检分诊的概念已经从简单的“分科分诊”发展到根据患者病情的轻重缓急决定提供医疗服务的优先顺序,从而帮助临床提高救治效率和成功率阻。目前,正确的应用合适的病情评估工具,迅速收集患者信息,测量相关生命体征,在最短的时间内,获得最有价值的病情信息,综合分析,作出正确的判断,按照分级标准,     

高职学生急诊分诊评估教学实践与效果观察

目的探讨急诊分诊评估实践在急救护理教学中的应用及效果。方法对护理高职2年级学生开展急诊分诊评估临床实践,经过分诊实践培训,在临床带教老师指导下参与分诊工作,急诊分诊实践前后分别对学生分诊理论知识掌握程度和教学效果进行测评。结果①实践后高职学生的分诊知识应用评价成绩明显提高(P0.01);②高职学生对教学效果的评价总分为(101.31±5.29)分,各条目均值均大于4.00分。结论通过急诊分诊评估临床实践,有效地提高高职学生对急诊知识的实践应用能力,提升了高职学生自主学习的主观能动性,有利于高职学生进入临床实习时,更快地实现角色转变。     

Do Knowledge and Experience Have Specific Roles in Triage Decision‐making?

Accuracy of triage decisions is a major influence on patient outcomes. Triage nurses' knowledge and experience have been cited as influential factors in triage decision-making. The aim of this article is to examine the independent roles of factual knowledge and experience in triage decisions. All of the articles cited in this review were research papers that examined the relationship between triage decisions and knowledge and/or experience of triage nurses. Numerous studies have shown that factual knowledge is an important factor in improving triage decisions. Although a number of studies have examined the role of experience as an independent influence on triage decisions, none have found a significant relationship between experience and triage decision-making. Factual knowledge appears to be more important than years of emergency nursing or triage experience in triage decision accuracy. Many triage education programs are underpinned by the assumption that knowledge acquisition will result in improved triage decisions. A better understanding of the relationships between clinical decisions, knowledge, and experience is pivotal for the rigorous evaluation of education programs.     

智能急诊分诊诊断治疗系统的研发与应用

目的 探讨智能急诊分诊诊断治疗系统在急诊科分诊中的应用效果。方法 采取便利抽样的方法,选择某三级甲等医院400例急诊科就诊患者为研究对象,根据入院时间先后顺序将其分为对照组和观察组各200例,对照组采用常规人工预检分诊,观察组应用智能急诊分诊诊断治疗系统预检分诊,比较2组患者病情资料收集时间、分诊时间、过度分诊率及患者对护士分诊工作的满意度。结果 观察组的病情资料收集时间、分诊时间均比对照组短,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）;观察组护士过度分诊率比对照组低,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）;同时,观察组患者对护士分诊工作表示满意的有196例,对照组中40例患者认为分诊较慢、流程繁琐等原因,表示不满意,2组满意度的比较差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。结论 在急诊科,结合应用智能急诊分诊诊断治疗系统,优化急诊分诊流程,快速对患者病情进行分类和归纳,减少了分诊时间,保障护士的分诊效率,从而进一步保障患者安全,提高患者的满意度。     

标准操作规范在急诊接诊与分流中的应用

目的 探讨急诊接诊与分流中应用标准操作规范的方法与效果.方法 制订急诊接诊与分流标准操作规范,合理配置人力资源并进行培训.结果 加快了急诊接诊与分流速度(P<0.05),分诊失误率下降(P<0.01),患者满意度提高(P<0.05).结论 规范化、科学的急诊接诊与分流标准实现了快速救治,提高了患者满意度.     

The Emergency Severity Index Triage Algorithm Version 2 Is Reliable and Valid

OBJECTIVES: Initial studies have shown improved reliability and validity of a new triage tool, the Emergency Severity Index (ESI), over conventional three-level scales at two university medical centers. After pilot implementation and validation, the ESI was revised to include pediatric and updated vital signs criteria. The goal of this study was to assess ESI version (v.) 2 reliability and validity at seven emergency departments (EDs) in three states. METHODS: In part 1, interrater reliability was assessed using weighted kappa analysis of written training cases and postimplementation by a random sampling of actual patient triages. In part 2, validity was analyzed using a prospective cohort with stratified random sampling at each site. The ESI was compared with outcomes including resource consumption, inpatient admission, ED length of stay, and 60-day all-cause mortality. RESULTS: Weighted kappa analysis of interrater reliability ranged from 0.70 to 0.80 for the written scenarios (n = 3289) and 0.69 to 0.87 for patient triages (n = 386). Outcomes for the validity cohort (n = 1042) included hospitalization rates by ESI triage level: level 1, 83%; 2, 67%; 3, 42%; 4, 8%; level 5, 4%. Sixty-day all-cause mortality by triage level was as follows: level 1, 25%; 2, 4%; 3, 2%; 4, 1%; and 5, 0%. CONCLUSIONS: ESI v. 2 triage produced reliable, valid stratification of patients across seven sites. ESI triage should be evaluated as an ED casemix identification system for uniform data collection in the United States and compared with other major ED triage methods.     

“SOAP”分诊法优化口腔急诊预检分诊管理实践

目的：通过运用“SOAP”分诊法,探讨口腔专科医院急诊科分诊模式与规范。方法：采用“SOAP”分诊法并结合澳大利亚预检系统、美国牙科协会（ADA）和美国口腔颌面外科协会（AAOMS）所定义的口腔急症进行分诊。结果：制定了口腔急诊预检分诊系统。结论：运用“S OA P”分诊法,提高了护士正确判断口腔急症的能力,为抢救赢得了时间,取得了患者和医生的满意,为完善口腔急诊患者服务开辟了一条新的途径,从而促进了口腔急诊护理水平的提高。