Triage Knowledge Research Articles

Triage knowledge, perceived skills and associated factors among nurses working in adult emergency departments of selected public hospitals in Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia, 2023: Multicenter cross-sectional study

Triage knowledge, perceived skills and associated factors among nurses working in adult emergency departments of selected public hospitals in Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia, 2023: Multicenter cross-sectional study

Korean Triage and Acuity Scale education using role-playing and its effects on triage competency: A quasi-experimental design.

Triage is the process of prioritizing patients in the emergency department (ED). This has a pivotal role in ensuring patient safety and that the ED operates smoothly; therefore, triage training education is an important aspect of triage nurses' preparedness in different emergency situations. This study employed a quasi-experimental research design using a non-equivalent control group pre-post-test design to verify the effect of the Korean Triage and Acuity Scale (KTAS) education using role-playing on the knowledge of triage, triage performance ability, and triage competency in nursing students. Participants were 78 fourth-year nursing students from Shinseong University in South Korea; 39 were assigned to the experimental group, and 39 to the control group. The intervention was conducted for three weeks, from January 31 to February 16, 2024. The experimental group received KTAS education through role-playing, whereas the control group received triage education through lectures. Triage knowledge (t = 2.94, p = .004) and triage performance ability (t = 3.11, p = .003) were significantly improved in the experimental group. However, there was no significant difference in triage competency between groups (t = 1.32, p = .192). The post-test score of triage record in the experimental group showed a significant improvement over time (t = 0.56, p < .001). This study demonstrated that KTAS education using role-playing was more effective in improving triage knowledge and performance ability than traditional lecture methods for nursing students. Triage education programs should be developed considering the effectiveness of various teaching methods.

Table Disaster Exercise (TDE) Simulation Media For Improving Knowledge Of Nursing Students In Conducting Triage

Disasters are a series of events that disrupt and threaten social life with natural and non-natural causes (human factors) resulting in loss of life, property damage, and psychological impacts. One of the obstacles to overcoming health problems in disaster areas is the lack of knowledge and disaster management skills from nurses and other health workers which has an impact on poor health services. This thing gives the public the impression that medical and nursing personnel are late in responding to all disaster events. The absence of disaster learning during lectures causes graduated nurses to not have adequate knowledge and skills. Tabletop Disaster Exercise (TDE) is one Media to measure preparedness in disaster management by the reactions of training participants through scenarios. Thus, this research aims to determine Tabletop Disaster Exercise (TDE) Simulation Media to Increase Students' Triage Knowledge of Disaster Victims. The Ministry of Health Pangkalpinang Health Polytechnic is one of the higher vocational education institutions having a Nursing study program whose vision is to produce competitive nurse graduates in the emergency field. Students are expected to be equipped with knowledge about providing basic life support and the ability to deal with disasters. This study employed a quasi-experimental method with a non-equivalent control group pre-test and post-test design. The population included all nursing students at the Pangkalpinang Health Polytechnic, with a sample size of 60 respondents identified through non-probability purposive sampling. The sample was divided into two groups: a control group of 30 respondents and a treatment group of 30 respondents. The research instrument was a questionnaire administered before and after the intervention. The dependent variable was the level of student knowledge regarding the use of Tabletop Disaster Exercise (TDE) media.

Knowledge and Awareness of the orthodontic triage and its uses among dental healthcare professionals – a cross-sectional study

IntroductionIn orthodontics, the triage system is used to assess the preadolescents to rule out interventions needed earlier and to assess the nature of orthodontic problems as complex or moderate. The objective of this study was to determine the knowledge and awareness of orthodontic triage and its uses among dental healthcare professionals (DHCP).Materials and methodsA triage awareness questionnaire (TAQ) was formulated and validated as reliable by a panel of five orthodontic specialists which was then circulated online among 400 DHCP. The questionnaire consisted of nine sections that assessed the current knowledge and usage of orthodontic triage among the dental community. Frequencies and percentages were reported for all categorical variables. Chi-square was used to assess the association among the variables.ResultsThe response rate was 28.2% with the majority of participants being general dentists. Regarding the knowledge and use of triage, 40% of DHCP were only familiar with the word “orthodontic triage” while being unaware of how it works and 79% denied using orthodontic triage. Regarding the management of anomalies, 42% of DHCP preferred extraction as the management of supernumerary teeth (p = 0.013). Practitioners belonging to private setups performed visual inspection in growing patients for assessment of their facial features (p = 0.012). Clinicians with more than one year of experience referred young patients to orthodontic specialists for the management of crossbite (p = 0.024). Younger clinicians (25–35 years) with more than one year of experience referred adult patients to orthodontists for correction of their unesthetic smile (p = 0.013).ConclusionsThis paper provides foundational data for the development of future policies and protocols supporting structured, evidence-based approaches to patient management via use of orthodontic triage. This study underscores the importance of targeted educational interventions to enhance understanding and implementation of orthodontic triage principles in clinical practice. Further probing is necessary to discern the disparity between understanding the orthodontic triage and effective employment of its components among practicing dental healthcare professionals.

Validity and Reliability of The START Triage Knowledge and Attitude Instrument in Medical Personnel and Health Workers

Medical and health personnel have the potential to play an important role in triage START in the event of a disaster. However, it is important to have an instrument in evaluating the level of knowledge and attitudes of medical and health dragons regarding the START triage. This instrument is essential for the development of a comprehensive and efficient START triage education program for medical and health personnel. Therefore, this study aims to assess the accuracy and consistency of knowledge and attitude instruments in conducting START triage for medical and health personnel. A cross-sectional study involving 100 respondents. This instrument is created through a literature review. The instrument totaled 10 items of statements on knowledge and 10 items of statements on attitudes categorized into 6 groups: 1) disasters; 2) START triage; 3) START triage principle; 4) START triage indicator; 5) START triage implementation procedure. The results of this study showed 100 participants, the majority of whom were female with an average age of 36 years. All participants are medical and health personnel. The instruments used in the study were validated through content validity (Pearson Product Moment) and biserial correlation. Utilizing internal consistency reliability, the study found satisfactory inter-item reliability for all knowledge items (0.70 – 0.73) and attitude items (0.86 – 0.90). Conclusion: these findings suggest that knowledge and attitudes in performing the START triage are important for medical and health personnel

The Effect of Animated Video Learning on ESI Triage Knowledge and Student Satisfaction of Nursing Polytechnic Health Ministry of Health Makassar

Triage at the hospital's Emergency Room (ER) is critical for prioritizing the care of emergency patients. Triage errors can be dangerous and endanger patient safety, so nursing students should have a solid understanding of triage. This study investigates the impact of ESI triage learning media containing PowerPoint and animated films on knowledge, triage decision-making (TDM), and participant satisfaction. The research used a quantitative approach with a Quasi-Experimental pretest-posttest method involving 36 5th semester Diploma Nursing students at the Makassar Ministry of Health Polytechnic. The study was divided into two groups, experimental (animated video learning) and control (PowerPoint learning), to evaluate the effect of treatment on knowledge, triage decision-making, and student satisfaction in ESI triage learning. The results of the data analysis show a significant increase in knowledge about ESI Triage and student satisfaction after the intervention, with significant values ​​of 0.001 and 0.018, respectively (p-value &lt; 0.05). Although there was no significant increase in Triage decision-making abilities between the groups that used animated videos and Microsoft PowerPoint (p = 0.440), the use of animated videos overall increased student responses and satisfaction. MANOVA analysis confirmed that the implementation of animated videos significantly influenced knowledge and satisfaction in students with a p-value &lt;0.05. The use of animated videos increases student knowledge and satisfaction significantly compared to PowerPoint, although it does not affect triage decision-making.

Triage implementation in Pakistan: a case of broken healthcare system

Madam, The death toll due to road traffic accidents (RTA) in Pakistan reached 28,170 in 2020, according to WHO. This accounts for 1.93% of all deaths in the World. (1) Mortality due to RTA is an ever-increasing concern and its management, especially in Pakistan, is still a bigger concern. The efficient way of dealing with Trauma is by following globally accepted evidence-based “Advanced Trauma Life Support” guidelines. Triage being the first step in ATLS literally means “to sort”. In other words, identifying the greatest good for greatest numbers. The Emergency Department (ED) rule must be to manage patients based on the severity of problems and not on the order of arrival. Death can be prevented in the patients who benefit the most by getting medical attention the earliest. All the patients escorted and rescued from the place of incident should be sorted rapidly and given a colour-coded tag based on urgency. Onsite triage is the most critical life saving measure. A Karachi based study concluded that most paramedics in ambulances had poor knowledge of pre-hospital management and 72.3% thought they could not do triage. (2) Similarly, another study at the emergency department of a tertiary care hospital in Karachi showed concerningly poor knowledge of triage.(3) Only 5 CPSP accredited public hospitals in Pakistan have emergency medicine as a separate field which results in lack of triage implementation as EDs of most hospitals are run by internal medicine professionals and general surgeons. Simply, implementing triage has shown to reduce and ED mortality (by 3.80%), resources’ utilisation, and length of stay.(4) Punjab, the development hub of Pakistan, provides 22 public hospitals, including only 12 fully functional ones, for dealing with trauma patients. DHQs bearing the burden of all trauma patients of districts are level-III trauma centres lacking in specialised surgical care and categorization of paediatric and adult patients. Other independent trauma care facilities are level-IV trauma centres which act as a relay to stabilise the patients before they are transferred to a better facility. A level-I trauma centre alone can increase 25% survival rate of trauma patients, but unfortunately Pakistan does not have a single level-I trauma centre. (5) Therefore, all Rescue staff must be trained regularly for future enactment of triage to alleviate RTA associated mortality along with upgrading of trauma centres to level-I.

Enhancing triage accuracy in emergency nurses: The impact of a game-based triage educational app

IntroductionDigital technology has enabled gamification methods to enhance triage education, reflecting an evolving healthcare landscape. ObjectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness of a Gamification Triage Education App (GTEA) as a learning tool for emergency nurses, with a focus on creating an engaging and educationally effective platform for triage training. MethodThe GTEA was developed using no-code based software and expanded upon previous iterations, with added features such as points, rankings, instant feedback, and quest-based stories. From December 2021 to March 2022, 27 emergency room nurses from three hospitals in Korea were instructed to use GTEA for 100 min over the course of a week. The effects were measured before and after the intervention. ResultsThe results demonstrated a significant increase in triage accuracy from 4.3 ± 2.00 to 5.33 ± 1.47 (t = −2.18, p = 0.039), along with a substantial reduction in overtriage (t = 3.11, p = 0.004). Additionally, increases in critical thinking disposition, triage competency, and triage knowledge were observed (t = −3.11, p = 0.004; t = −2.72, p = 0.011; t = −3.14, p = 0.004, respectively). ConclusionsThe findings provide robust evidence for the effectiveness of gamification in triage training within emergency nursing.

Investigation of Triage Knowledge of Nurses

Investigation of Triage Knowledge of Nurses

Crossover design in triage education: the effectiveness of simulated interactive vs. routine training on student nurses’ performance in a disaster situation

IntroductionThis study investigates the effectiveness of incorporating simulated interactive guidelines in nursing students’ performance during disaster situations, compared to routine training.MethodThis study was a crossover design with pre-and post-tests for two groups. Each group consisted of 60 students selected using the census method. SIG and routine (Face-to-Face) training sessions were conducted as a crossover design. Triage knowledge questionnaires were used in the pretest to assess triage knowledge. An OSCE test was administered in the posttest to assess student performance, followed by a triage skills questionnaire. Both questionnaires were highly reliable, as indicated by Cronbach’s alpha coefficients (0.9 and 0.95, respectively). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 26 software at a significance level 0.05.ResultThe chi-square test showed that the two groups were homogeneous regarding age. Regarding knowledge level, both groups were homogeneous before the intervention (P = 0.99). Nevertheless, the results of the OSCE test showed that the students in Group A had a higher level of skill than the students in Group B (93% versus 70%). Also, 18% of the students in group B had low skills.DiscussionThe study found that student outcomes improved in both groups receiving SIG, suggesting that interaction and simulation improve learning. However, gamification is an ideal precursor to learning and not a substitute for education. Therefore, gamification should not be used as a stand-alone teaching method.ConclusionsThe crossover study found that simulators and games should not be considered stand-alone teaching methods but can contribute to learning sustainability when used alongside instruction.

Train-the-trainers intervention for national capacity building in infection prevention and control for COVID-19 in Nigeria

BackgroundThe first case of COVID-19 in Nigeria was reported on February 27, 2020, and over time, spread across the country leading to many healthcare worker infections. The risk of transmission of COVID-19 within healthcare facilities makes it necessary to establish infection prevention and control measures. The World Health Organisation supported the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control to conduct a train-the-trainers workshop on infection prevention and control for key healthcare workers across Nigeria. Aim/ObjectivesThis study aims to describe the process and results of train-the-trainers as an intervention for national capacity building in infection prevention and control for COVID-19 among healthcare workers in Nigeria. MethodsEight-hour sessions were held over three days with face-to-face instruction and practical hands-on experience in April 2020. A total of 61 healthcare workers participated across the six geographic zones of Nigeria: North Central, North East, North West, South West, South East, and South South. The training included slide presentations, case-based scenarios, and practical hands-on sessions with plenary discussions. Pre- and post-test assessments were used to evaluate knowledge of COVID-19, triage, and infection prevention and control among healthcare workers. Finding/Results69 % (42) of the participants were male 31 % (19) were female, and the majority (67 %) were medical doctors. Others attending were nurses or health administrators. Of the 70 % (26) of the states with existing infection prevention and control structures within the COVID emergency response, only 40 % were functional. The average percentage of pre-test and post-test scores were 60.8 ± 13.4 and 67.8 ± 9 0.3 respectively, showing a statistically significant difference (p > 0.001) in trainee knowledge. Additionally, 70 % of participants evaluated the training workshop as “satisfactory” or higher in training format, relevance for daily clinical work, active participation, learning new concepts, and logistics. ConclusionNationwide infection prevention and control training is feasible during a national health crisis. Infection prevention and control is cardinal in the containment of epidemic-prone diseases like COVID-19 and is invaluable in the prevention of healthcare-associated infections in healthcare settings.

Exploring the competencies of operating room nurses in mobile surgical teams based on the Onion Model: a qualitative study

BackgroundWith the frequent occurrence of public health emergencies, conflicts and natural disasters around the world, mobile surgical teams are becoming more crucial. The competency of the operating room (OR) nurse has a substantial impact on the effectiveness and quality of the surgical team’s treatment, still there is limited knowledge about OR nurse competencies in mobile surgical teams. This study aimed to explore the competencies of OR nurses in mobile surgical teams based on the Onion Model.MethodsWe conducted a qualitative descriptive study of participants from 10 mobile surgical teams in 2022. Twenty-one surgical team members were interviewed, including 15 OR nurses, four surgeons, and two anesthesiologists. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews. The data were analyzed using Mayring’s content analysis.ResultsTwenty-eight competencies were found in the data analysis, which were grouped into four major domains using the Onion Model. From the outer layer to the inner layer were knowledge and skills, professional abilities, professional quality, and personal traits. The qualitative data revealed several novel competencies, including triage knowledge, self and mutual medical aid, outdoor survival skills, and sense of discipline.ConclusionsThe application of the Onion Model promotes the understanding of competency and strengthens the theoretical foundations of this study. New competencies can enrich the content of the competencies of OR nurses. The results of this study can be used for clinical recruitment, evaluation and training of OR nurses in mobile surgical teams. This study encourages further research to develop competency assessment tools and training programs for OR nurses.

Nurse Practitioner Students' Knowledge Assessment and Perceived Preparedness to Triage Ophthalmology Complaints in a Primary Care Setting: An Educational Intervention.

Purpose In this proof-of-concept pilot study, we aimed to increase nurse practitioner (NP) student knowledge of ophthalmology to prepare NPs for encounters in primary care settings. The Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology (AUPO) and the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) endorse core knowledge that medical students should achieve. We assess the effectiveness of an innovative ophthalmologist-led curriculum based on these competencies tailored to issues NPs encounter in primary care. Methods Johns Hopkins University NP students enrolled in a pre-post-cohort study and educational intervention. The didactic program was developed according to AUPO and AAO core ophthalmology content for medical students and was taught in-person by an ophthalmologist. Pre-post-assessments evaluated students' perceived readiness to encounter ophthalmic issues in the clinic and baseline knowledge of core competencies of ophthalmology. Results A total of 42 NP students were included in the analysis. NP students improved in core knowledge and readiness to encounter ophthalmology issues. After the educational event, there was a statistically significant improvement in students' ratings of preparedness to obtain a focused history, exam, perform initial management and decide the urgency of a referral for acute painless vision loss ( p < 0.001), chronic vision loss ( p < 0.001), or a patient with a red/painful eye ( p < 0.001). Students showed a statistically significant improvement in postdidactic event core ophthalmology knowledge assessment scores ( p = 0.002). Conclusion Primary care NPs are increasingly the initial point of contact for patients with ophthalmic complaints, and thus, high-quality and thorough education regarding ophthalmology triage and referral for NPs is necessary. NP student comfort with and knowledge of ophthalmic complaints and triage may be improved by a brief educational intervention taught by an ophthalmologist early in the NP curriculum.

A comparison between the impacts of lecturing and flipped classrooms in virtual learning on triage nurses’ knowledge and professional capability: an experimental study

BackgroundThe quality of triage in emergency department depends on regular evaluation of triage nurses’ professional capabilities and development of programs to improve them. Flipped classrooms are a new approach to learning which can be employed to improve professional capabilities. The present study aims to compare the impact of lecturing to flipped classrooms in virtual learning on the knowledge and professional capabilities of triage nurses in the emergency departments of the state hospitals of Yazd province in south-western Iran in 2022.MethodsThe present study is an experimental work of research. Seventy-four triage nurses participated in the study. Seventy-four triage nurses were randomly allocated to the two groups, including flipped classrooms (group B) and lecturing (group A). The data collection instruments were an emergency department triage nurses’ professional capability questionnaire and a triage knowledge questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed in SPSS v.22 using independent t-test, chi-squared test, and repeated measures analysis of variance. Level of significance was set at p ≥ 0.05.ResultsThe participants’ mean age was 33.1 ± 4.3 years. As measured one month after the education, the triage knowledge mean score of the nurses who were educated using the flipped classroom method (9.29 ± 1.73) was higher than that of the nurses who were educated via lecturing (8.45 ± 1.788), and the difference was statistically significant (p = 0.001). Also, measured one month after the education, the professional capability mean score of the nurses who were educated using the flipped classroom method (140.27 ± 11.744) was higher than that of the nurses who were educated via lecturing (132.84 ± 10.817), and the difference was statistically significant (p = 0.006).ConclusionThere was a significant difference between the pretest and posttest knowledge and professional capability mean scores of both groups immediately after the education. However, measured one month after the education, the mean and standard deviation of the knowledge and professional capability scores of the triage nurses who had been educated via flipped classrooms were higher than those of the nurses in the lecturing group. Thus, virtual learning using flipped classrooms is more effective than lecturing in improving triage nurses’ knowledge and professional capability in the long run.

KORELASI KARAKTERISTIK DENGAN PENGETAHUAN PERAWAT MENGENAI AUSTRALIAN TRIAGE SCALE

Triage is a very essential aspect of emergency services, especially intrahospital. Triage in its technical implementation is carried out by health workers who first meet patients in the emergency room. Health workers who are in charge of prioritizing patients using triage, must at least contain interpretation of clinical history and physiological assessment to label, and place patients in the appropriate area. Fast and precise triage is the key to successful performance in providing emergency services. Assessing the priority of patients who are inappropriate for their condition has the risk of increasing morbidity rates, affecting the results of care, or outcomes that will be determined. This study aims to determine the correlation between characteristics and knowledge of health workers regarding ATS triage at Wangaya Hospital, Denpasar City. This study is a descriptive correlative study with a cross sectional approach. This research was conducted in the emergency room of Wangaya Hospital, Denpasar City within a period of 1 month in November 2022. The sample in this study amounted to 31 health workers consisting of 24 nurses and 7 doctors. Samples were selected using total sampling technique. Gamma test was used to determine the relationship between the two variables. The results showed that from the characteristics of health workers, only the history of triage training had a statistical relationship with ATS triage knowledge with a p-value of 0,021. There was no statistical association between age, gender, education history, BTCLS training history, PPGD training and length of employment history with ATS triage knowledge. Regular triage training can be carried out with roleplay or video methods to increase health workers' knowledge of ATS triage.

The Training Effects of Mass Casualty Triage in Radiological Events for 119 Emergency Medical Team

Introduction:Korea Institute Radiological Medical Sciences operates an emergency medical response system in case of a radiological accident or disaster. A radiation accident or disaster can affect large-scale patients and destroy medical infrastructure. However, there is currently a lack of specialized education for treating large-scale patients or high-dose exposure patients. This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of radiological mass casualty triage education programs and present a new training method to improve the ability of 119 emergency medical teams in the event of a radiological accident or disaster.Method:The results of mass casualty triage for radiological events were analyzed using the audience response system and questionnaire for paramedics who participated in the radiation accident response training program. For 25 paramedics, a pre-post evaluation was conducted on two items: understanding the mass triage and understanding the radiological mass triage. The data were analyzed using the SPSS WIN 23.0 program.Results:Thirty simulated patient scenarios were developed with the addition of clinical symptoms of radiation exposure based on the four trauma classifications: immediate, urgent, delayed, and death. The triage results of 30 cases conducted by 119 emergency medical teams were evaluated, and the trainees were asked to respond to the level of improvement in their knowledge of triage through pre- and post-training questionnaires. As a result of the pre- and post-education questionnaire, the degree of understanding of the mass triage was 3.8 before education and 4.4 after education, showing a significant difference (p=.003/MAX=5). The pre- and post-education questionnaire results of radiological mass triage showed a difference between 2.3 before education and 4.1 after education (p=.000/MAX=5).Conclusion:For effective radiation medical response, 119 emergency medical teams are required to have a repetitive mass triage education program for radiological events. It is especially important to provide a radiological triage system for field application.

The correlation between nurses' knowledge of triage and the accuracy of triage level interpretation in the emergency department

Background/Aim: Knowledge about triage has been identified as one of the factors influencing patient outcomes in the emergency room. Nurses' knowledge regarding triage is necessary in order to work effectively in managing patients, as swift and accurate actions depend on the nurses' acquired knowledge. The aim of this research was to determine the correlation between nurses' knowledge of triage and the accuracy of triage-level interpretation. Methods: The data from 145 nurses were collected by using a questionnaire sheet for the triage knowledge variable and an observation sheet for the variable of accuracy in triage level interpretation. This research was conducted in May-June 2023 at Tugurejo Regional General Hospital, KRMT Wongsonegoro Regional General Hospital and Dr Kariadi General Hospital. The independent variable in this study was nurses' knowledge and the dependent variable was the accuracy of triage level interpretation. The statistical analysis included descriptive statistics and bivariate analysis using the Chi-square test for comparison between groups. Results: Based on the results of the bivariate analysis, nurses' knowledge has a correlation with the accuracy of triage-level interpretation with a p-value of &lt; 0.001. Conclusion: There is a correlation between nurses' knowledge of triage and the accuracy of triage-level interpretation.

Knowledge and Skills in Triage Assessment among Nurses in Emergency Department Hospital Saudi Arabia

Introduction: Triage is the nursing process and the first step for patients who came to or were brought to the Emergency Department (ED). As hospitals have more patients, the ED becomes overcrowded with non-emergency patients. An inaccurate triage decision not only delays patient treatment but also incurs unnecessary expenses for the facility. Patients in the waiting area should be reassessed to determine their conditions. Treatment for patients on a first-come, first-served basis without regard to the triage acuity level of their illnesses for severity, may result in delays for critically ill patients. The rationale of triage in the ED is to prioritize incoming patients and identify those who need to be seen first. Methods: Descriptive study using cross-sectional questionnaires for non-random sampling. Quantitative approaches were chosen as the study type. Questionnaires were completed by 41 of the selected sample size. The aim of the study is to determine the level of knowledge and skills in triage assessment among nurses in Emergency Department Hospitals in Saudi Arabia. Results: Response rates of 100% were obtained from the study. 19 (46.3%) of the participants were aged between 31-40 years old. Most of the respondents have Bachelor’s in nursing which are 38 (92.7%). Respondents with experience in ED of about 11-20 years are 18 (43.9%) of the total. 100% of respondents say that they are familiar with the Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale (CTAS) triage primary assessment. 100% will change the CTAS level when the patient deteriorates, and 100% agreed to give Paracetamol to the patient with a body temperature of more than 38 degrees. Seven skill level questions were completed with 100% correct answers. There is no significant relationship between triage knowledge and triage skill Conclusion: This finding indicates that there is a high level of knowledge and skill in triage assessment. Hence high knowledge and good skill should be maintained by continuing education, in-service, and training.

Comments on "Triage Knowledge and Practice and Associated Factors Among Emergency Department Nurses".

It is to be hoped that much more attention should be drawn toward properly constructing scenarios to ensure the accuracy of the decisions made by triage nurses, because there is a history of poorly-constructed scenarios in previous research, leading to biases in their results. Consequently, scenarios are expected to meet the main criteria for a triage, such as demographic characteristics, major complaints, vital signs and accompanying symptoms, and physical examinations, to simulate what nurses might encounter in triaging a real patient. Moreover, further studies are suggested to report mistriage, including undertriage and overtriage rates.

Collaborative Interprofessional Health Science Student Led Realistic Mass Casualty Incident Simulation.

In collaboration, a health science university and a fire department offered a mass casualty incident (MCI) simulation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a cross-section of student health care providers to determine their working knowledge of an MCI. Students were given a pretest using the Emergency Preparedness Information Questionnaire (EPIQ) and the Simple Triage and Rapid Transport (START) Quiz. The EPIQ instrument related to knowledge of triage, first aid, bio-agent detection, critical reporting, incident command, isolation/quarantine/decontamination, psychological issues, epidemiology, and communications. The START Quiz gave 10 scenarios. Didactic online content was given followed by the simulation a few weeks later. A posttest with the same instruments was given after the simulation. Participants were majority female (81.7%), aged between 25-34 (41.7%), and 61.7% (n = 74) had undergraduate or post-graduate degrees. The overall pretest mean was 2.92 and posttest mean was 3.64. The START Quiz found participants struggled to correctly assign triage levels. Students also experienced challenges correctly assigning patients to specific triage categories. Findings will assist educators to understand knowledge gaps, so revisions can be made to enhance learning in disaster management. Concentration in proper field triage is also a needed focus.