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Evaluation of Emergency Triage Using a Computerized Simulator

This study has been completed.
Sponsor:
Information provided by:
University Hospital, Geneva
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
NCT00321243
First received: February 6, 2006
Last updated: June 3, 2008
Last verified: June 2008
History of Changes
  Purpose

A four-level triage scale (the Geneva Emergency Triage Scale, GETS) has been used since 1997 in our emergency department (ED). A recent evaluation of this scale showed that our instrument had an excellent intra-rater reliability but insufficient inter-rater reliability. We also observed a wide variability in the way triage nurses perform (J Clin Epidemiology, 2006 in press). These variations in the triage process are mainly explained by a poor standardization of vital signs measurement. Therefore, we have recently modified our triage instrument and introduced explicit criteria for vital signs evaluation during the triage process.

The objectives of this study are:

  • To evaluate the inter- and intra-rater reliability of our modified triage scale using a computer simulator
  • To measure the impact of visual clues on the triage decisions when using the triage simulator
  • To evaluate the performance of triage nurses and chief physicians in their triage decisions.

We expect to observe:

  • an improvement of the inter-rater reliability of our instrument compared to the previous version
  • a better standardization and more systematic use of vital signs measurement
  • a higher reliability when visual clues are given to the evaluator
  • lower rates of under- and over-estimation of emergency levels.

Condition Intervention
Emergencies
 Behavioral: Visual clues

Study Type: Interventional
Study Design: Allocation: Randomized
Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Open Label
Official Title: Evaluation of a Four-Level Triage Scale (the Geneva Emergency Triage Scale) Using a Computer Triage Simulator

Further study details as provided by University Hospital, Geneva:

Primary Outcome Measures:
  • Inter-rater and intra-rater reliability
  • Performance of evaluators

Secondary Outcome Measures:
  • Impact of visual clues on reliability

Estimated Enrollment: 150
Study Start Date: May 2006
Study Completion Date: May 2007
Primary Completion Date: May 2007 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
Detailed Description:

A four-level triage scale (the Geneva Emergency Triage Scale, GETS) has been used since 1997 in our emergency department (ED). A recent evaluation of this scale showed that our instrument had an excellent intra-rater reliability but insufficient inter-rater reliability. We also observed a wide variability in the way triage nurses perform (J Clin Epidemiology, 2006 in press). These variations in the triage process are mainly explained by a poor standardization of vital signs measurement. Therefore, we have recently modified our triage instrument and introduced explicit criteria for vital signs evaluation during the triage process.

The objectives of this study are:

  • To evaluate the inter- and intra-rater reliability of our modified triage scale using a computer simulator
  • To measure the impact of visual clues on the triage decisions when using the triage simulator
  • To evaluate the performance of triage nurses and chief physicians in their triage decisions.

We expect to observe:

  • an improvement of the inter-rater reliability of our instrument compared to the previous version
  • a better standardization and more systematic use of vital signs measurement
  • a higher reliability when visual clues are given to the evaluator
  • lower rates of under- and over-estimation of emergency levels.
  Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:   18 Years to 65 Years
Genders Eligible for Study:   Both
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:   No
Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Triage nurses
  • Emergency physicians
  Contacts and Locations
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00321243

Locations
Switzerland
Geneva University Hospitals
Geneva, Switzerland, 1211
Sponsors and Collaborators
University Hospital, Geneva
Investigators
Principal Investigator: Olivier T Rutschmann, MD, MPH University Hospital, Geneva
  More Information

No publications provided

Responsible Party: O. Rutschmann, HUG, Geneva
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00321243     History of Changes
Other Study ID Numbers: CER 05-213
Study First Received: February 6, 2006
Last Updated: June 3, 2008
Health Authority: Switzerland: Ethikkommission

Keywords provided by University Hospital, Geneva:
triage

Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Emergencies
Disease Attributes
Pathologic Processes

ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on May 19, 2013