Comparison of emergency severity index triage (ESI) and Swiss emergency triage scale (SETS) triage and its consequences in emergency department of Imam Reza Medical Education Center

Abstract

Proper and fast triage of patients is the key to successful performance in the emergency department. Studies have shown that determining the severity of patients' initial triage has the most important impact on the timing of patients' transfer to inpatient wards, and nursing triad decisions directly affect the timing of service delivery, and errors in patient triage have serious consequences. Also, delays in admitting patients from the emergency department to hospital wards increase the length of hospital stay and increase hospital costs. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the accuracy of each of the two methods in differentiating between critically ill and refreshed patients. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional analytic study was conducted at Imam Reza Medical Center in Tabriz from January 2017 to February 2016. Simple sampling method was selected. The sample size for the study was about 384 people, however we determined 1000 cases to increase the study power. All 1000 patients were randomly selected using a randomized number table and their triage stage were determined by ESI (Emergency Severity Index) and SETS (The Swiss Emergency Triage Scale) methods, and their triage levels were determined using a triage questionnaire. It should be noted that there was no intervention in routine triage of patients (ESI). After triage, the patients underwent diagnostic and therapeutic measures in the relevant department, and finally the outcome of the patients, including discharge, hospitalization, and death, was assessed and recorded in the questionnaire. Results: The collected data were analyzed and it was shown that both SETS and ESI methods used in all individuals, male or female, as well as in all age groups of the patients studied during the emergency research period, had solidarity and agreement.