Triage Knowledge and Perceived Skills Among Nurses Working in Adult Emergency Departments of Selected Public Hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2023.
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Date
2023-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Background: Triage is an essential function in emergency department. Knowledge of nurses
working at triage has been cited as an influential factor in triage decision-making. As there are
increased numbers of clients with life threatening traumatic injuries and medical patients in the
emergency department in Ethiopia, triage knowledge and skill are an essential competency
required for the nurses working in emergency department. Since there is limited study with in
Addis Ababa hospitals regarding the knowledge and skills of triage among nurses working in the
emergency departments, it is necessary to assess emergency nurses’ triage knowledge and skills
including its related factors.
Objective: To assess knowledge and perceived skills of nurses towards triage and associated
factors among nurses working in adult emergency department of three selected public hospitals in
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2023.
Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used. Three hospitals were selected from the total
of 13 public hospitals purposely. A census sampling technique was used to obtain a required
sample size. A standardized pretested self-administered questionnaire by open data kit (ODK)
version 2022.1.2 was used. The questions were coded and the skip logic was properly prepared on
the Kobo Toolbox server before data collection. Finally, it was exported to SPSS version 27 for
final analysis. Bivariate analysis at a P-value of 0.25 and multivariable analysis at a P-value of
0.05 was applied. Results was presented using tables, figures and texts.
Results: A total of 179participants were included in this study. The proportion of poor triage
knowledge and perceived poor triage skill of nurses were 58.1% and 50.3%, respectively.
Educational level and triage experience of nurses were significant predictors of triage knowledge,
while training experience and availability of triage equipment’s were significant predictors of
perceived triage skill.
Conclusion and recommendation: The triage knowledge and skill were found to be at low level.
As nurse’s knowledge about triage is a key tool in triage decision making, there is the need to
improve on nurse’s knowledge level and skills in triaging at the ED.
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Keywords
Triage, Triage knowledge, Triage skill, Emergency nurse, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.