The Effect of A Clinical Practice Guideline on Monitoring for unstable symptoms or symptoms deteriorates while the examination continues during the waiting period in the Emergency and Forensic Unit, Thongsaenkhan Hospital Uttaradit Province

Abstract

This research aimed to study the effects of implementing a clinical practice guideline for monitoring unstable symptoms or deterioration during waiting periods on patient waiting times in the Emergency and Forensic Department of Thongsaenkhan Hospital, Uttaradit Province. The study employed a quasi-experimental one-group pretest-posttest design. The sample consisted of 9 nurses and 200 patients. Research instruments included monitoring guidelines, data recording, and practice evaluation forms. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and t-tests.               Results showed that after implementing the guideline, average waiting times decreased significantly across all patient groups, with emergency patients experiencing the most substantial reduction of 10.4 minutes. The proportion of patients waiting beyond the standard time decreased, particularly among critical patients, dropping from 60% to 10%. The number of patients experiencing deterioration decreased by 37.5%, and the management of deteriorating conditions became more efficient. In conclusion, the monitoring guideline effectively reduced waiting times, decreased the number of patients with deteriorating conditions, and improved the efficiency of managing patient deterioration. This resulted in enhanced quality and safety of emergency patient care.