Evaluating the Facilitators, Barriers, Completeness, and User-Friendliness of the Emergency Department Triage Format in Three Selected Ethiopian Public Hospitals: Study Protocol

Abstract

Background: When triage personnel do not follow the triage procedure and do not properly determine the triage level, patient safety is jeopardized. As a result, the involved staff's comprehension of the triage algorithm and its documentation will serve as a foundation for the triage system's proper implementation and functioning.
Objective: The aim of this study will be to assess facilitators, barriers, the magnitude of completeness, and userfriendliness of emergency department triage format in three selected Ethiopian Public Hospitals.
Method: The study design will be a quantitative ,cross-sectional, and programmatic qualitative research, with an estimated sample size of  384 cards. Systematic random sampling and criterion sampling will be applied for quantitative and qualitative parts respectively. Data  will be collected using a data collection checklist. Descriptive frequency and distribution analysis of the data will be conducted by using a  Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 25). The association between relevant characteristics and triage format completeness  will be examined using the binary and multinominal logistic regression analysis. To determine the significant factors, P- values of 0.05 and AOR with % CI will be applied. Qualitative data will be analyzed thematically. A focus group discussion with nurses who  have used the triage chart before will be held for the qualitative component. Five FGD at the very least, or until saturation is reached. Discussion: The primary investigator made a concept note on the observed gaps in the triage system, and a team of experts from several  institutions with experience in research and publication held a follow-up meeting in addition to sub-team physical meetings and email  communication. Finally, after reaching an agreement on objectives and techniques, authors were assigned separate tasks. The grant had  been secured from the funder, and the institutional review board issued a permission letter. After analyzing the data, these findings will  be shared with the respective facilities and published in a reputable journal. Work plan and budget: The overall research activities will be  performed based on the prepared timetable. A financial expense of 256,900 Birr will be required for the achievement of this project