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The knowledge of triage system in disaster among emergency medical service personnel at Saudi Red Crescent Authority in Riyadh city stations

Saqer Althunayyan (Department of Accident and Trauma, Prince Sultan College for Emergency Medical Services, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)
Abdullah Alhalybah (Saudi Red Crescent Authority, Riyadh Branch, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)
Ahmed Aloudah (Saudi Red Crescent Authority, Riyadh Branch, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)
Osama A. Samarkandi (Basic Science Department, Prince Sultan College for Emergency Medical Services, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)
Anas A. Khan (College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)

International Journal of Emergency Services

ISSN: 2047-0894

Article publication date: 25 May 2021

Issue publication date: 5 October 2021

154

Abstract

Purpose

Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment (START) is a unique triage system used by prehospital providers during disasters to quickly categorize and prioritize patient care according to severity. This study aims at evaluating knowledge about the START triage system among field emergency medical service (EMS) personnel working at the Saudi Red Crescent Authority (SRCA) in the stations of the city of Riyadh.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a cross-sectional study that examined data collected from August 2019 to January 2020. The statistical population is from all field EMS personnel working in the SRCA located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Using simple random sampling, 239 field EMS personnel were assessed, and 235 completed the study (98.3% response rate). Data were collected electronically using demographics and 15 multiple choice emergency scenarios based on the START protocol.

Findings

The mean correct score is 8.21 ± 3.36 out of 15 questions of triage knowledge (score of 0–15 points), indicating that those respondents have moderate knowledge levels on the START triage tool. Physicians and paramedics have higher mean scores (10.13 ± 3.42 and 9.07 ± 3.22, respectively), which are significantly higher than emergency medical technicians and nurses (7.25 ± 3.15 and 5.63 ± 2.72, respectively; p < 0.05). The providers who attended the training course had higher mean scores (p < 0.05).

Originality/value

Based on the results of the study, field EMS personnel did not reflect full knowledge of START triage tool. An interdisciplinary approach that adopts reinforcement education and periodical training courses is highly recommended to improve the respondents' performance and productivity. Moreover, there was a noticeable correlation between performance of respondents on the one hand and their education levels and prior training on the other hand.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the Vice Deanship of Postgraduate Studies and Research at the King Saud University and Prince Sultan College of Emergency Medical Services Research Center for the supporting this study. The authors also express their appreciation to Saudi Red Crescent Authority for facilitating their research.

Citation

Althunayyan, S., Alhalybah, A., Aloudah, A., Samarkandi, O.A. and Khan, A.A. (2021), "The knowledge of triage system in disaster among emergency medical service personnel at Saudi Red Crescent Authority in Riyadh city stations", International Journal of Emergency Services, Vol. 10 No. 3, pp. 340-350. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJES-03-2021-0010

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited

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