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Primary Trauma Triage Performed by Bystanders: An Observation Study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 May 2016

Martin Nordberg ,
Maaret Castrén  and
Veronica Lindström
Martin Nordberg
Affiliation:
Karolinska Institutet, Department of Clinical Science and Education, Section of Emergency Medicine, Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden
Maaret Castrén
Affiliation:
Helsinki University Hospital, Department of Emergency Medicine and Services; Helsinki University, Finland & Karolinska Institutet, Department of Clinical Science and Education, Södersjukhuset, Section of Emergency Medicine, Stockholm, Sweden
Veronica Lindström*
Affiliation:
Karolinska Institutet, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Nursing; Academic EMS, Stockholm, Sweden
*
Correspondence: Veronica Lindström, RN, PhD Karolinska Institutet Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Nursing Alfred Nobels alle’ 23 141 83 Huddinge, Sweden E-mail: veronica.lindstrom@ki.se
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Abstract

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether bystanders with no training in triage can correctly prioritize three injured patients by using a triage instrument.

Method

An observational study was conducted. Participants performed a primary triage on three paper-based patient cases and answered 11 questions during a public event in the center of Stockholm, Sweden.

Results

A total of 69 persons participated in the study. The success rate among all the participants for correct triage of the three patient cases was 52 percent. The female participants and younger participants (<55 years of age) performed correct triage to a greater extent. The over-triage was 12.5 percent and under-triage was 6.3 percent.

Conclusion

Participants with no prior knowledge of triage instruments may be capable of triaging injured patients with the help of an easy triage instrument. The over- and under-triage percentages were low, and this may indicate that the developed triage instrument is relatively easy to use. It may also indicate that bystanders can identify a severely injured patient.

NordbergM, CastrénM, LindströmV. Primary Trauma Triage Performed by Bystanders: An Observation Study. Prehosp Disaster Med.2016;31(4):353–357.

Keywords

ambulance servicebystandersEmergency Medical Servicesobservation studyprehospitaltriage
Type
Original Research
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 31 , Issue 4 , August 2016 , pp. 353 - 357
Copyright
© World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2016 

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