Waganew Woldesenbet, Zewde Ayalew, Abera Sisay Yifru, Sultan Menbau, Beyene Temesgen, Getachew Tesfaye, Tebebe Bethelehem, Getahun Zelalem, Alemu Daniel, Gobegnew Esubalew, Aklog Etsegent, Bacha Tigist, Teklu Sisay, Azazh Aklilu, W Tsadik Asefu
St Paul Hospital Millenium medical college, Ethiopia.
Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia.
Afr J Emerg Med. 2025 Sep;15(3):100888. doi: 10.1016/j.afjem.2025.100888. Epub 2025 Jul 14.
Triage is a system of ranking sick or injured persons according to their severity. Its data is critical for evidence-based action. The aim of this study was to assess the quality and completeness of emergency department triage tool in three tertiary Ethiopian public hospitals.
This study utilized a multicenter cross-sectional design with sample size estimation calculated using a single population proportion formula. Data were collected from multiple sites and analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 25. All statistical analyses were conducted to evaluate the completeness of triage documentation.
In a review of 450 client charts from three tertiary hospitals providing acute care, the completeness of triage data varied. Patient name, age, and gender were documented with a completeness of 79.1 %, 77.5 %, and 70.8 %, respectively. The cumulative analysis of the triage early warning score showed, highest recorded completeness was for heart rate (98.4 %), followed closely by respiratory rate (96.0 %). However, significant discrepancies were noted in other areas, such as systolic blood pressure, which had an overall completeness of 87.7 %. Temperature assessment was notably poor, with a cumulative completeness of only 59.3 %. Other parameters, including mobility and AVPU/CNS assessments, showed completeness of 86.4 % each.
This study identifies significant inconsistencies in triage documentation completeness across three Ethiopian hospitals, highlighting an urgent need for interventions. Standardized triage scales and continuous professional development focusing on documentation are crucial to enhance patient safety and optimize care delivery.
分诊是一种根据病情严重程度对伤病员进行分级的系统。其数据对于循证行动至关重要。本研究旨在评估埃塞俄比亚三家三级公立医院急诊科分诊工具的质量和完整性。
本研究采用多中心横断面设计，使用单总体比例公式计算样本量。数据从多个地点收集，并使用社会科学统计软件包（SPSS）25版进行分析。所有统计分析均用于评估分诊记录的完整性。
在对三家提供急性护理的三级医院的450份患者病历进行审查时，分诊数据的完整性各不相同。患者姓名、年龄和性别的记录完整性分别为79.1%、77.5%和70.8%。分诊早期预警评分的累积分析显示，记录的完整性最高的是心率（98.4%），其次是呼吸频率（96.0%）。然而，在其他方面存在显著差异，例如收缩压，其总体完整性为87.7%。体温评估明显较差，累积完整性仅为59.3%。其他参数，包括活动能力和AVPU/CNS评估，显示完整性均为86.4%。
本研究发现埃塞俄比亚三家医院在分诊记录完整性方面存在显著不一致，突出了进行干预的迫切需求。标准化分诊量表和专注于记录的持续专业发展对于提高患者安全和优化护理服务至关重要。
