Reliability of Korean Triage and Acuity Scale-based Triage System as a Severity Index in Emergency Patients

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Triage is an important process in a hospital emergency department (ED). The Korean Triage and Acuity Scale (KTAS)-based triage system was developed for use in Korean EDs as a triage tool. Nevertheless, there is limited evidence of its reliability in KTAS. This study assessed the KTAS reliability by comparing skilled nurses and poly-clinic students. METHODS: This study was a prospective study. All adult patients over the age of 15 years who visited the ED during the study period were included. The patients were triaged independently by a primary triage nurse and poly-clinic student using KTAS, and their scores were compared. RESULTS: A total of 168 patients were enrolled in this study. In the nurse group, 3%, 8.9%, 45.8%, 38.1%, and 4.2% were assigned to levels 1,2,3,4, and 5, respectively. In the poly-clinic group, 3.6%, 10.7%, 43.5%, 33.9%, and 8.3% were assigned to levels 1,2,3,4, and 5, respectively. The percentage of each level using KTAS was similar. Using the interrater agreement, the weighted Kappa was 0.721 (95% confidence interval, 0.215 to 1.000). CONCLUSION: KTAS appears to be a good tool for triaging patients according to the severity, and it is helpful to order the priority for utilization in a Korean ED.