Comparing the Accuracy of Three Pediatric Disaster Triage Strategies: A Simulation-Based Investigation

Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2016 Apr;10(2):253-60. doi: 10.1017/dmp.2015.171. Epub 2016 Jan 8.

Abstract

Background: It is unclear which pediatric disaster triage (PDT) strategy yields the best accuracy or best patient outcomes.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis on a sample of emergency medical services providers from a prospective cohort study comparing the accuracy and triage outcomes for 2 PDT strategies (Smart and JumpSTART) and clinical decision-making (CDM) with no algorithm. Participants were divided into cohorts by triage strategy. We presented 10-victim, multi-modal disaster simulations. A Delphi method determined patients' expected triage levels. We compared triage accuracy overall and for each triage level (RED/Immediate, YELLOW/Delayed, GREEN/Ambulatory, BLACK/Deceased).

Results: There were 273 participants (71 JumpSTART, 122 Smart, and 81 CDM). There was no significant difference between Smart triage and CDM. When JumpSTART triage was used, there was greater accuracy than with either Smart (P<0.001; OR [odds ratio]: 2.03; interquartile range [IQR]: 1.30, 3.17) or CDM (P=0.02; OR: 1.76; IQR: 1.10, 2.82). JumpSTART outperformed Smart for RED patients (P=0.05; OR: 1.48; IQR: 1.01,2.17), and outperformed both Smart (P<0.001; OR: 3.22; IQR: 1.78,5.88) and CDM (P<0.001; OR: 2.86; IQR: 1.53,5.26) for YELLOW patients. Furthermore, JumpSTART outperformed CDM for BLACK patients (P=0.01; OR: 5.55; IQR: 1.47, 20.0).

Conclusion: Our simulation-based comparison suggested that JumpSTART triage outperforms both Smart and CDM. JumpSTART outperformed Smart for RED patients and CDM for BLACK patients. For YELLOW patients, JumpSTART yielded more accurate triage results than did Smart triage or CDM.

Keywords: emergency responders; mass casualty incidents; triage; vulnerable populations.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Emergency Medical Services / methods
  • Emergency Medical Services / standards
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mass Casualty Incidents / statistics & numerical data*
  • Patient Simulation*
  • Pediatrics / methods
  • Pediatrics / standards*
  • Prospective Studies
  • Triage / methods*
  • Triage / standards*