Effects of patient triage documentation system on the relationship between severity levels and the feasibility and satisfaction with web application usage
Keywords:
patient triage, severity level correlation, triage data recording, web application systemAbstract
Patient triage using technology-assisted systems supports clinical decision-making and reduces errors in the triage process. Such systems can decrease the incidence of both under-triage and over-triage-critical issues in emergency care that directly impact the timeliness and quality of medical treatment.
This study aimed to investigate the relationship between triage data and illness severity, the feasibility, and user satisfaction with a web-based triage data recording application. The participants included seven professional nurses working at a triage point who recorded data from 312 patients over a three-month period between March and May 2024.
Quantitative data were analyzed using Spearman’s correlation coefficient to assess the relationship between vital signs and illness severity. Qualitative data obtained from post-implementation interviews were analyzed using content analysis.
Quantitative findings revealed: 1) a negative correlation between systolic blood pressure and pulse rate (rs=-0.40, p<0.05), as well as between diastolic blood pressure and pulse rate (rs=-0.14, p<0.05); 2) a moderate positive correlation between systolic and diastolic blood pressure (rs=0.47, p<0.05); and 3) a positive correlation between oxygen saturation and illness severity (rs=0.16, p<0.05). The feasibility of using the web-based triage data recording application had a high mean score (M=4.51, SD=0.50), while user satisfaction also received the highest score (M=4.54, SD=0.51). Qualitative analysis yielded three main themes: 1) reduced workload and improved ease of triage; 2) decreased stress and pressure in decision-making; and 3) enhanced confidence in triage assessments.
The results highlight the association between vital signs and illness severity, and demonstrate the effectiveness and acceptability of the web-based triage data recording application. This tool not only supports clinical decision-making but also alleviates workload, reduces stress, and improves confidence in urgent patient triage.
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