Evaluation of compliance of emergency severity index triage levels and demographic characteristics with the outcome of patients referred to the emergency department: A retrospective study

Abstract

This research sought to examine the relationship between emergency severity index (ESI) triage levels, demographic factors, and patient outcomes. A total of 350 patient cases were analyzed from the emergency department (ED) of Khoy University of Medical Sciences and Health Services Hospital, where ESI triage was systematically implemented. A simple random sampling method was employed for selection. The study identified key variables including age, gender, outcomes, and triage levels, categorizing levels 1 and 2 as high-priority triage and levels 3, 4, and 5 as low priority. Data were retrospectively gathered from the medical records of all patients involved. The outcomes assessed included hospitalization, discharge from the hospital, patient satisfaction, and mortality. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS software version 20, employing non-parametric chi-square tests, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and multiple regression, with a significance threshold set at 0.05. The findings revealed a statistically significant correlation between ESI triage levels, demographic characteristics, and the outcomes of patients presenting to the ED (P<0.0001). The results indicate that the ESI triage system demonstrates high accuracy in prioritizing patients and effectively predicting outcomes, thereby serving as a valuable tool in hospital triage processes.