J Korean Acad Nurs.  2019 Feb;49(1):26-35. 10.4040/jkan.2019.49.1.26.

Evaluation of Validity of the Korean Triage and Acuity Scale

• Choi H
• Ok JS
• An SY

• KMID: 2440384
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2019.49.1.26

Abstract

PURPOSE
The aim of this study was to identify the predictive validity of the Korean Triage and Acuity Scale (KTAS).
METHODS
This methodological study used data from National Emergency Department Information System for 2016. The KTAS disposition and emergency treatment results for emergency patients aged 15 years and older were analyzed to evaluate its predictive validity through its sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value.
RESULTS
In case of death in the emergency department, or where the intensive care unit admission was considered an emergency, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the KTAS were 0.916, 0.581, 0.097, and 0.993, respectively. In case of death in the emergency department, or where the intensive or non-intensive care unit admission was considered an emergency, the sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were 0.700, 0.642, 0.391, and 0.867, respectively.
CONCLUSION
The results of this study showed that the KTAS had high sensitivity but low specificity. It is necessary to constantly review and revise the KTAS level classification because it still results in a few errors of under and over-triage. Nevertheless, this study is meaningful in that it was an evaluation of the KTAS for the total cases of adult patients who sought help at regional and local emergency medical centers in 2016.

Keyword

Triage; Hospital Emergency Service; Sensitivity and Specificity

MeSH Terms

Adult
Classification
Emergencies
Emergency Service, Hospital
Emergency Treatment
Humans
Information Systems
Intensive Care Units
Methods
Sensitivity and Specificity
Triage*