Factors associated with under triage and clinical outcomes in The Maechan hospital.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND: Many patients come to visit the Emergency department, and some are under-triaged, which can result in treatment delays and poor clinical outcomes.
OBJECTIVE: The primary objective was to define the factors associated with under-triage by using MOPH ED triage and the secondary objective is to define the clinical outcomes associated with under-triage.
METHODS: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study. The data were collected from the electrical medical record in Maechan hospital during January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2023. The data were analyzed using descriptive and multivariable logistic regression. A p-value of less 0.05
RESULTS: This study included a total of 300 patients were included in this study. 80 patients were in the under-triage group, and 220 patients were in the correct-triage group. Factors associated with under-triage, analyzed by multivariable logistic regression, were mostly a respiratory rate of more than 20 breaths per minute (adjusted odds ratio 5.05, 95% CI 2.31 - 11.05, P<0.001) and other factors were a heart rate of more than 100 bpm, chief complaints of gastrointestinal symptoms, dizziness and animal bites. Additionally, under-triage wasn’t associated with clinical outcomes which were admission rate, mortality rate, endotracheal tube intubation, ICU admission, referral, surgery, cardiac catheterization, and endoscopy.
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: Factors associated with patients being under-triaged were found in the tools used for emergency patient triage. These factors included respiratory rate, heart rate and chief complaints such as gastrointestinal symptoms, dizziness and animal bites. It should be recognized that there was a tendency for these patients to be under-triaged.
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