The Effect of Using the MOPH ED Triage Model with Update Version on the Accuracy of Triage and the Waiting Time of the Patients in Emergency Department, Nakornping Hospital

Abstract

The effectiveness of the MOPH ED Triage is important to identify the severity level categorization of patients. This quasi-experimental research aimed to compare the accuracy of triage decision of nurses and the waiting time the patient between using the MOPH ED Triage model and using the MOPH ED Triage model with updated version. The samples consisted of 112 patients receiving services at the emergency room selected by purposive sampling; 56 patients by using the MOPH ED Triage model, and 56 patients of using the MOPH ED Triage model with update version. Research tools included questionnaires; demographic, assessment forms for the accuracy of the triage decision form, the waiting time of the patient’s record, and guidelines for patient triage using the MOPH ED Triage with update version. All instruments were tested for validity by experts which was 1.00. The Cronbach alpha coefficient of the questionnaire was .79 and the test-retest was .56. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and inferential statistics, including Chi-square test, and the independent t-test.

          The results revealed that after using the MOPH ED Triage model with updated version, the accuracy of triage decisions of nurses was significantly higher than using the MOPH ED Triage model at the level .05, whereas the waiting time for emergency patients was significantly less than the MOPH ED Triage model at the level .01.

Therefore, the MOPH ED Triage model with updated version should be applied to identify the patient triage practices in emergency and accident departments in order to treat the most extraordinary symptoms as fast as necessary and to ensure patient safety and provide quality services.