Efficacy of Different Triage Protocols in Reducing Waiting Times in Emergency Settings: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study designs: Randomized Controlled Trial, Clinical Trial
Abstract: Introduction: Prolonged waiting times in emergency departments (EDs) can result in adverse outcomes for patients. Implementing efficient triage protocols is critical in reducing these delays. This study evaluates the efficacy of different triage protocols in decreasing waiting times in emergency settings. Methods: A randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted to compare three triage protocols (Manchester Triage System, Nurse-Initiated Triage, and Digital Triage Systems). The primary outcome was the reduction in waiting times. Secondary outcomes included patient throughput and satisfaction. Results: < 0.05). The Digital Triage System showed the highest patient throughput but lower satisfaction scores. Conclusion: Nurse-Initiated Triage protocols can effectively reduce waiting times in ED settings. Digital Triage Systems while improving efficiency may need to address patient satisfaction concerns.
Authors: P R S Balu, Afroz Kalmee Syed, Tejashwini Kotian, Hemanth Satya Subhash Padala, Surendra Gupta, Rahul Tiwari, Saloni Kamboj
Language: English
Subfield: Emergency Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $250
OpenAlex ID: W4408054513