Developing a translational triage research tool: part two-evaluating the tool through a Delphi study among experts.

Area of Science:

• Emergency Medicine
• Disaster Management

Background:

• Prehospital triage systems lack consensus, posing risks during mass casualty incidents.
• A Translational Triage Tool was previously shown to be feasible for standardizing triage.
• This study aimed to validate this tool with expert input.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate and verify a proposed Translational Triage Tool algorithm.
• To gain expert consensus on a unified prehospital triage approach.
• To establish guidelines for managing critical victims during mass casualty incidents.

Main Methods:

• A Delphi study involving two rounds of expert panel review.
• Statements derived from prior reports were presented to experts.
• Expert panel comprised individuals with demonstrated triage proficiency.

Main Results:

• Unanimous expert consensus was achieved on all presented statements.
• Experts proposed a manageable number of critical victims per provider for effective triage.
• The feasibility of the Translational Triage Tool algorithm was confirmed with minor modifications.

Conclusions:

• The Translational Triage Tool is a feasible algorithm for standardizing prehospital triage.
• Further evaluation using simulated patient data is recommended before real-world application.
• Expert validation provides a foundation for improved mass casualty incident response.