Implementation of the Interagency Integrated Triage Tool (IITT) in a Rural Emergency Department: A Qualitative Study in Western Nepal.

BACKGROUND

Triage, the process of organizing and prioritizing patient interventions, is a fundamental aspect of emergency departments. This study focuses on the implementation of the recently developed triage tool for resource-limited settings - the Interagency Integrated Triage Tool (IITT) at the Bayalpata Hospital (BH) Emergency Department located in rural Nepal.

METHODS

The study involved training healthcare workers and implementing the IITT. Pre- and post- implementation surveys of these healthcare workers were completed. Patient surveys gauged satisfaction and wait times.

RESULTS

Pre-implementation surveys revealed limited prior training, subjective triage methods, and identified barriers to appropriate triage. Post-implementation surveys showed improved staff comfort and understanding of triage and demonstrated a shift in reported barriers.

CONCLUSIONS

The study highlights the challenges faced by a low-resource rural emergency department. The IITT implementation addressed staff concerns, particularly regarding training, but ongoing education and addressing spatial limitations were persisting barriers.