Accuracy and interrater reliability of paediatric emergency department triage

Abstract

Our findings demonstrate inconsistencies in the accuracy and reliability in which sick children presenting to EDs receive triage scores both within and across hospitals. These results suggest the need for improvements either in current triage nurse training or training resources. Use of the ETEK alone has not resulted in high levels of paediatric triage accuracy or reliability.

Inter-rater reliability in the Paediatric Observation Priority Score (POPS)

“…Inter-rater reliability in the use of POPS lies within the same range as studies such as Jordi et al 10 and rates higher than in the studies such as Allen et al 11 An absolute value at which inter-rater reliability confers a gold standard reliability does not exist; therefore, favourable comparison with other studies is an encouraging finding.…”

Re: Accuracy and interrater reliability of paediatric emergency department triage

“…We read with interest the recent paper by Allen et al on the accuracy and interrater reliability of paediatric ED triage. 1 The authors suggest that despite significant efforts to improve triage reliability through the national roll-out of the Emergency Triage Education Kit (ETEK), 'the triage category assigned to any given child could differ depending on which nurse conducts the triage assessment and to which hospital they present.' 1 Interestingly, a literature review in 2011 demonstrated that the ATS is valid and reliable for the most acute categories (ATS 1 and ATS 2).…”

The Role Descriptions of Triage Nurse in Emergency Department: A Delphi Study

“…Triage is defined as prioritizing or sorting the patients for the care and treatment that is due to shortage of the necessary resources in the emergency department (ED) [ 1 ]. Several studies have focused on the validity and reliability of triage scales [ 2 , 3 ] and assessed agreement between nurses and physicians [ 4 , 5 ]. Factors which affect triage practice were also studied [ 6 ].…”