Evaluation of a multifaceted intervention on documentation of vital signs at triage: A before-and-after study

Abstract

Background: Triage systems provide a centralised safety mechanism where all patients are assessed for clinical urgency at point of entry to the ED. Objective: The present study aims to evaluate the effect of a multifaceted intervention on triage documentation rates and guideline adherence. Methods: A before-and-after design was used. The intervention involved restructuring the computerised interface, regular audit and feedback and education sessions. The setting was one adult tertiary referral hospital and major trauma centre located in Melbourne, Australia. Participants were triage nurses. Data were collected at five time points for a consecutive sample of one month of presentations. Result..