{"title":"Developing practice-level quality indicators to assist in evaluating the application of the Australasian Triage Scale: A modified e-Delphi process.","authors":"Wayne Varndell, Matthew Lutze, Carrie Janerka","doi":"10.1016/j.auec.2025.03.001","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Triage quality is central to patient safety and the efficient distribution of emergency department resources. Currently, there are no identified quality indicators for application of the Australasian Triage Scale.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To address a gap in quality indicators specific to triage.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>A literature review and modified Delphi technique.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>A review of the literature published between 2001 and 2024 was conducted to identify potential indicators and metrics of triage quality, and were categorised across six quality of care domains (patient-centeredness, timeliness, effectiveness, equity, efficiency and safety). Three consecutive online surveys where panellists rated these indicators for perceived appropriateness, validity and feasibility were completed between August and December 2023.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>From the review, 17 initial quality indicators across six quality of care domains were developed. Following round 1, 3 indicators were modified and 8 indicators were added. After two further survey rounds, 18 (72 %) indicators met consensus.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>An expert panel validated a set of triage quality indicators for measuring Australian triage practice. A continuous quality improvement approach is required to optimise triage practice, develop processes for detecting and reducing patient harm and minimising variation. Further research is needed to test applicability of the indicators.</p>","PeriodicalId":55979,"journal":{"name":"Australasian Emergency Care","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1000,"publicationDate":"2025-03-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Australasian Emergency Care","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.auec.2025.03.001","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"EMERGENCY MEDICINE","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: Triage quality is central to patient safety and the efficient distribution of emergency department resources. Currently, there are no identified quality indicators for application of the Australasian Triage Scale.
Aim: To address a gap in quality indicators specific to triage.
Design: A literature review and modified Delphi technique.
Method: A review of the literature published between 2001 and 2024 was conducted to identify potential indicators and metrics of triage quality, and were categorised across six quality of care domains (patient-centeredness, timeliness, effectiveness, equity, efficiency and safety). Three consecutive online surveys where panellists rated these indicators for perceived appropriateness, validity and feasibility were completed between August and December 2023.
Results: From the review, 17 initial quality indicators across six quality of care domains were developed. Following round 1, 3 indicators were modified and 8 indicators were added. After two further survey rounds, 18 (72 %) indicators met consensus.
Conclusion: An expert panel validated a set of triage quality indicators for measuring Australian triage practice. A continuous quality improvement approach is required to optimise triage practice, develop processes for detecting and reducing patient harm and minimising variation. Further research is needed to test applicability of the indicators.
期刊介绍:
Australasian Emergency Care is an international peer-reviewed journal dedicated to supporting emergency nurses, physicians, paramedics and other professionals in advancing the science and practice of emergency care, wherever it is delivered. As the official journal of the College of Emergency Nursing Australasia (CENA), Australasian Emergency Care is a conduit for clinical, applied, and theoretical research and knowledge that advances the science and practice of emergency care in original, innovative and challenging ways. The journal serves as a leading voice for the emergency care community, reflecting its inter-professional diversity, and the importance of collaboration and shared decision-making to achieve quality patient outcomes. It is strongly focussed on advancing the patient experience and quality of care across the emergency care continuum, spanning the pre-hospital, hospital and post-hospital settings within Australasia and beyond.