Public awareness of triage in emergency departments in Saudi Arabia in the era of COVID-19

Abstract

Background: There is an increasing demand for services from the emergency department (EDs), which has limited resources. The triage process is the key determining step for prioritization in EDs, especially during pandemics. This study aimed to assess public awareness of the triage process in EDs and the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on awareness levels. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed from August to October 2020. Data were collected using an online survey that was randomly distributed to the public in Saudi Arabia using social media. Results: Of the 1,047 people who received the survey, 687 (66%) completed it. The majority of the respondents (80%) knew why some patients were taken to a room before others, even though they may not have waited as long, and 85.3% thought this was fair. However, only 52% knew exactly what triage meant. Some factors seemed to significantly influence the level of awareness, such as age group [p value = 0.001 and odds ratio (OR) = 0.170], gender (p value = 0.001 and OR = 0.170), employment (p value < 0.001 and OR = 4.904), and region of residency (p value = 0.005 and OR = 2.556). The COVID-19 pandemic did not affect participants' general knowledge about triage (p value = 0.555, OR = 1.122). Conclusion: The majority of the respondents were aware of the triage process in EDs and thought it was fair. However, there is an existing need for more information when visiting EDs, especially after going through the triage process. ED visitors' expectations of more clarification and communication should be addressed by the responsible administrations.