Assessment of the Triage System at the Emergency Department of the Greater Accra Regional Hospital
Date
2019-07
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Ghana
Abstract
Background: Triage ensures that patients are treated in order of their clinical urgency.
However, developing and less developed countries, including Ghana, are not utilizing the
full potential of the triage system. The purpose of this study was to assess triaging of patients
at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital.
Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional study design was employed in this study. Triage
records of 1,520 patients from July to September was assessed using a checklist. A self administered
structured questionnaire was administered to 26 ED staff. Descriptive analysis
of demographic data was carried out showing frequencies, averages and standard deviations
of the variables. The Chi-square statistic (2) was used to assess the relationship between
triage outcomes and process, and triage outcome by sex distribution.
Results: There was good emergency department utilization among patients (75%). There
were 22.6% admissions, 22.6% discharges and 19.7% referrals after triaging. The triage
process was mainly high acuity triaging (71.5%), with under triaging and over triaging
accounting for 23.3% and 5.2% respectively. However, staff shortage (92%), inadequate
materials and resources to work with (85%) and overcrowding (77%) were the challenges
faced by the ED staff with the smooth implementation of the triage process.
Conclusions: General ED utilisation was good among the patients and the triage process was
generally satisfactory although there were over and under triaging. However, implementation
of the triage process was not without challenges. It is recommended that staff
communications and interactions should be improved and undertake workload assessment.
Description
MSc. Monitoring and Evaluation
Keywords
Triage, Greater Accra Regional Hospital, Ghana