Effect of Using the MOPH ED Triage on Waiting Time of Patients, Accuracy of Triage, and Triage Roles Professional Nursing Practice in Emergency Department

Abstract

This quasi-experimental research aimed to 1) examine the effectiveness of using the MOPH ED Triage model on 1) waiting time of the patient, 2) accuracy of triage decision of nurses, and 3) performance of triage nurses. The samples consisted of 25 accident and emergency nurses and 320 patients' medical records from the emergency room selected by purposive sampling. Research instruments included 1) the manual for triage screening and its criteria, 2) the triage observation form, 3) the waiting time of the patient's record, 4) the accuracy of the triage decision form, and 5) the questionnaire on the performance of triage nurses. All instruments were tested for validity by experts. The Cronbach alpha coefficient of the questionnaire on the performance of triage nurses was .95. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and inferential statistics, including a one-sample t-test, Chi-square test, and Paired t-test. The study results showed that after using the MOPH ED Triage model, the waiting time for emergency patients was more than the Austrian patients and less urgency and non-urgency patients had waiting time less than at the .05 level. (p-value < 0.05). The accuracy of triage decisions of nurses was significantly higher than before using the MOPH ED Triage model at the .05 level (c²= 12.62, df= 1, p= .00). The performance of triage nurses before and after using the MOPH ED Triage model was not different (t=1.51, p < .15). This research reflects that using the MOPH ED Triage model can reduce patients’ waiting time and make the screening more accurate. Therefore, nurses should apply this model to other patients.