Using the Delphi technique to design a self-reporting triage survey tool.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Research
• Health Services Research
• Methodology

Background:

• The triage role is critical in healthcare, demanding speed and accuracy.
• Understanding current triage practices and decision-making is essential for improving patient care.
• Existing methods may not fully capture the complexities of the triage process.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel self-reporting survey tool for assessing triage practices.
• To utilize the Delphi technique for contextually specific research item generation.
• To explore current triage practices and decision-making among Australian triage nurses.

Main Methods:

• The Delphi technique was employed for the first time to create a triage survey.
• This method facilitates group communication to develop contextually specific research items.
• The study focused on Australian triage nurses to understand their current practices.

Main Results:

• A self-reporting triage survey tool was successfully developed using the Delphi technique.
• The tool is designed to explore current triage practices and decision-making processes.
• This represents a novel application of the Delphi technique in this research area.

Conclusions:

• The Delphi technique is a valuable method for developing specialized research tools.
• The new survey tool will enhance understanding of triage nursing in Australia.
• Further research can utilize this tool to investigate triage decision-making in depth.