Result of using triage guidelines for emergencies in the Outpatient Department, Chakkarat Hospital, Nakhon Ratchasima Province

Abstract

                Triage of patients with incorrect severity assessment may adversely affect a patient's survival from delayed treatment. This quasi-experimental research aims to study and evaluate the use of the Emergency Severity Index and satisfaction of nurses towards the application of this Index in the Outpatient Department of Chakkarat Hospital, Nakhon Ratchasima Province. The study group consisted of 6 registered nurses who performed procedures in the Outpatient Department and 180 patients who received services at the Outpatient Department. Data were collected from May 2020 to June 2020. Data were collected using the Assessment Form on Compliance with the Emergency Severity Index and “MOPH” ED. Triage Guideline of the Ministry of Public Health, and Interview Form on Satisfaction. Content Validity was checked by IOC=0.86 and reliability was calculated by Cronbach’s alpha coefficient at 0.82. Data were represented using descriptive statistics and chi-square test.  

               The results revealed that 100% of registered nurses had applied the Emergency Severity Index and the efficiency of a correct emergency severity order was 98.9%. The correctness of medical triage performed by individual nurses was not different from the correctness of the Emergency Severity Index (c²=4.045, df=5, p=0.543). Overall satisfaction of registered nurses with the Emergency Severity Index was at a high level ( =4.46, S.D.=0.467). Findings showed that the Emergency Severity Index met nursing standards and the hospital could apply the Emergency Severity Index for efficient and timely treatment of Emergency Department patients.