RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To determine the validity of the five-level TRIPED-GM pediatric triage system. METHODS: Unicentric, observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study of 485 patients aged 0-16 years in the pediatric emergency department of the HGU Gregorio Marañon. Two measures of validity were used: a direct measure calculated by the sensitivity and specificity obtained based on the number of infratriages and overtriages of the priorities given by classification nurses compared with a panel of experts and another indirect measure by the length of stay, the resources consumed and the percentage of income for each priority level. RESULTS: 10 patients were incorrectly classified, 4 (0.8%) were considered infratriages and 6 (1.2%) overtriages. The results showed a sensitivity of 99.45% (95% CI 96.5-99.97%) and a specificity of 99.01% (95% CI 96.9-99.7%) for high priorities (P2 and P3) and 98.99% (95% CI 96.8-99.6%) and 98.4% (95% CI 96.84-99.74%) respectively for low priorities (P4 and P5). The quadratic weighted Kappa index was 0.96 (95% CI 0.94-0.98; p = 0.0000). Resource consumption showed moderate Spearman correlation coefficients as the priority level increased. The percentage of admissions and the need for observation increased as the priority level p = 0,000 increased, not requiring observation or admitting any patients with priority 5. CONCLUSIONS: The TRIPED-GM pediatric triage system is valid for use in emergency departments with similar patients.