Last update:
   23-Jul-2021
 

Arch Hellen Med, 38(4), July-August 2021, 497-507

ORIGINAL PAPER

Emergency department triage: The knowledge and skills of Greek health professionals

G. Pontisidis,1 C. Platis,2 P. Galanis,3 N. Polyzos,4 T. Bellali5
1Emergency Department Unit, General University Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis,
2National School of Public Administration and Local Government, Athens,
3Department of Nursing, Center for Health Services Management and Evaluation, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens,
4Department of Social Work, Democritus University of Thrace, Komotini,
5Faculty of Nursing, International Hellenic University, Thessaloniki, Greece

OBJECTIVE To investigate the knowledge and skills of Greek health professionals (HPs) regarding the sorting of patients in the emergency department (ED) according to severity.

METHOD A cross-sectional study was conducted in the EDs of 12 Greek public hospitals from December 2016 to May 2017. A total of 357 HPs participated in the study, specifically 146 specialized doctors/medical residents and 211 nurses/nurse assistants. Each participant completed the Triage Knowledge Questionnaire (TKQ) and the Triage Skill Questionnaire (TSQ). Data analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 21.0.

RESULTS The level of triage knowledge in the study sample was low to moderate. The overall level of triage skills, triage skills for rapid patient assessment and triage skills for patient allocation fluctuated from moderate to high, while triage skills for patient categorization was moderate. On multivariate linear regression analysis, a greater number of years of working experience, younger age and higher education level were associated with a higher level of knowledge about sorting patients. Regarding their overall triage skills scores and their triage rapid patient assessment skills scores, the HPs who had sufficient skills were those with longer working experience in sorting patients and a higher level of knowledge in triage skills. The level of triage skills regarding patient categorization was associated with a higher educational level, longer working experience in sorting patients, older age, a higher level of knowledge in triage skills and additional training in emergency medicine/nursing. HPs with higher skills in patient allocation had longer working experience in sorting patients, older age and additional training in emergency medicine/nursing.

CONCLUSIONS The majority of Greek HPs working in the ED have insufficient knowledge and skills about triage in the ED. Basic and additional special education in emergency health care for HPs is considered essential for improvement of the health care services provided in Greek EDs.

Key words: Emergency department, Health professionals, Knowledge/skills of triage, Ī¤riage scales.

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