Factors affecting triage decision-making from the viewpoints of emergency ward staff in Tabriz hospitals

Triage is the most important measures in the emergency ward. Accurate triage decision has a significant impact on patients’ outcomes. The aim of the present study was to investigate the factors influencing triage decision making in the emergency wards. All physicians (N=22) and nurses (N= 135) in 18 emergency wards of Tabriz hospitals participated in this descriptive study. For data collection a questionnaire was used that assessed staff and non-staff related factors (including patients and emergency ward related factors) that influencing triage decision making. Social- Demographic and professional information of staff was assessed by a checklist. Data analysis was performed by SPSS statistical software and descriptive statistics. The most important factors in staff related factors were experience and skill in non-staff factors related to patient vital signs and type of injury; and in non-staff factors related to ward were overcrowding and probability of injury to the patient. Also، it was found that the basis of decision-taking regarding staff and non- staff factors related to patient was correct، but this basis regarding none-staff factors related to the ward was incorrect. The results showed that the quality of triage decision-making among staff working in emergency wards can be improved by enhancing the quality of clinical wards’ structure.