Development and validation of trigger tools in primary care: A scoping review

Area of Science:

• Patient Safety
• Primary Care Research
• Health Informatics

Background:

• Trigger tools are used in primary care to identify patient safety events.
• Limited research exists on the development and validation process of trigger tools specifically within primary care settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the development and validation processes of trigger tools in primary care.
• To provide a guide for developing and validating trigger tools in primary care.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review methodology based on the Joanna Briggs Methodology was employed.
• Included English-published studies from the last five years, encompassing qualitative and quantitative designs.
• Searched literature on trigger tool development and validation in primary and combined primary-secondary care settings.

Main Results:

• Trigger tool development involves defining triggers and programming them into a computerized algorithm.
• Validation includes two steps: content validity and concurrent validity assessed by physician and non-physician experts.
• Key metrics for validation include sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value (PPV).

Conclusions:

• Precise trigger definition through literature review and dual validation is crucial for effective trigger tools.
• Similarities exist in trigger tool development and validation between primary care and hospital settings.
• Primary care can leverage insights from hospital-based trigger tool development and validation processes.