Abstract
BackgroundTo treat many patients despite lacking personnel resources, triage is important in disaster medicine. Various triage algorithms help but often are used incorrectly or not at all. One potential problem-solving approach is to support triage with Smart Glasses.ObjectiveIn this study, augmented reality was used to display a triage algorithm and telemedicine assistance was enabled to compare the duration and quality of triage with a conventional one.MethodsA specific Android app was designed for use with Smart Glasses, which added information in terms of augmented reality with two different methods—through the display of a triage algorithm in data glasses and a telemedical connection to a senior emergency physician realized by the integrated camera. A scenario was created (ie, randomized simulation study) in which 31 paramedics carried out a triage of 12 patients in 3 groups as follows: without technical support (control group), with a triage algorithm display, and with telemedical contact.ResultsA total of 362 assessments were performed. The accuracy in the control group was only 58%, but the assessments were quicker (on average 16.6 seconds). In contrast, an accuracy of 92% (P=.04) was achieved when using technical support by displaying the triage algorithm. This triaging took an average of 37.0 seconds. The triage group wearing data glasses and being telemedically connected achieved 90% accuracy (P=.01) in 35.0 seconds.ConclusionsTriage with data glasses required markedly more time. While only a tally was recorded in the control group, Smart Glasses led to digital capture of the triage results, which have many tactical advantages. We expect a high potential in the application of Smart Glasses in disaster scenarios when using telemedicine and augmented reality features to improve the quality of triage.
Highlights
Terrorist attacks, natural disasters, and major traffic accidents present challenges to emergency physicians around the world
To provide technical support for this important phase in the case of mass casualty incidents (MCI), we have developed a triage app running on Smart Glasses (Recon Jet, Recon Instruments, Vancouver, BC, Canada) within the framework of the project Augmented Disaster Medicine (AUDIME), which was financed by the German Federal Government
362 individual triages were performed by 31 paramedics (Table 2); 20 paramedics conventionally triaged 240 patients with manual coverage of the triage category, 7 paramedics triaged a total of 84 patients with an indication of the PRIOR algorithm in the Smart Glasses, and 4 paramedics performed a total of 38 triages along with a tele-senior emergency medical service (EMS) physician
Summary
Natural disasters, and major traffic accidents present challenges to emergency physicians around the world. Methods: A specific Android app was designed for use with Smart Glasses, which added information in terms of augmented reality with two different methods—through the display of a triage algorithm in data glasses and a telemedical connection to a senior emergency physician realized by the integrated camera. An accuracy of 92% (P=.04) was achieved when using technical support by displaying the triage algorithm. This triaging took an average of 37.0 seconds. The triage group wearing data glasses and being telemedically connected achieved 90% accuracy (P=.01) in 35.0 seconds. We expect a high potential in the application of Smart Glasses in disaster scenarios when using telemedicine and augmented reality features to improve the quality of triage
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