Accuracy of Triage by Nurses and Doctors in the Emergency Department
Ruttanaseeha W, MD1, Serewiwattana N, MD2, Ienghong K, MD1, Buranasakda M, MD1, Apiratwarakul K, MD1,3, Tiamkao S, MD3,4
Affiliation : 1 Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand 2 Queen Sirikit Heart Center of the Northeast, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand 3 Research group for emergency patients care and emergency medical services, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand 4 Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
Background : Triage is an important tool that enables the effective allocation of resources in the emergency department. Although
under triage leads to greater complications and over triage leads to the overuse of resources, no study has yet been conducted
examining triage accuracy in Srinagarind Hospital.
Objective : To evaluate the accuracy of triage performed by nurses and doctors compared to standard triage using the Emergency
Severity Index (ESI).
Materials and Methods : This was a prospective descriptive study that compared triage performed by nurses and doctors with
standard triage in 367 patients who presented at Srinagarind Hospital’s emergency department from August to October 2017.
Results : Triage performed by nurses was accurate in 258 cases (70.30%), with over triage in 45 cases (12.26%) and under triage
in 64 (17.44%). That performed by doctors was accurate in 265 cases (72.21%), with over triage in 52 cases (14.17%) and under
triage in 50 (13.62%).
Conclusion : There was no significant difference in the accuracy of triage performed by nurses and doctors.
Keywords : Triage, Emergency Service, Health resources, Nurses, Emergencies
