Pews vs Empirical Triage: A Comparison Between Two Triage Systems in A Pediatric Hospital

• Published in: International journal of caring sciences Vol. 16; no. 3; pp. 1205 - 1219
• Main Authors: Antonopoulos, Stavros, Ioannidou, Loukia, Theologi, Vasiliki, Moschoviti, Anastasia, Kadditi, Stavroula, Lilikaki, Georgia, Malami, Vaia, Lymperopoulou, Marika
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Nicosia Professor Despina Sapountzi - Krepia Publisher of the International Journal of Caring Sciences 01-09-2023
• Subjects: Age groups; Children & youth; Emergency medical care; Heart rate; Hospitals; Patients; Pediatrics; Vital signs
• ISSN: 1791-5201; 1792-037X

Introduction: The Emergency Department (ED) serves as the primary point of access for a vast majority of patients seeking medical care. This seems to be a worldwide problem which results in waiting times for patients with serious diseases. Serious illnesses, or life-threatening conditions, need to be identified quickly, minutes after patients' arrival. In response to this challenge, pediatric triage systems have been developed and used in order to ensure the rapid identification of patients with severe conditions and their immediate transfer to the definitive treatment site. Aim: The purpose of our study was to compare the patient triage method we use in our hospital with a corresponding international tool and to investigate the possibilities of complementing each other of the two systems. Results: A total of 261 children who presented at the Emergency Department of our Hospital with symptoms compatible with pediatric diseases were included. At arrival of the children at the triage station they were evaluated, by a nurse and a medical doctor, using both the currentsystem and the system "PEWS". Conclusions: Our analysis reveals that both PEWS scores and the "current situation" wield significant influence over the variations in "incident outcome".