Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 27, 2026
Prehospital Thrombolysis: A Manual from Berlin
Published on: November 26, 2013
Facilitating the Reverse Triage Selection Process: A European Delphi
Gwen Pollaris1, Frieda De Bondt2, Olivier Hoogmartens1
1Department Public Health and Primary Care, Research Unit Emergency Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Objective:
To reach a European consensus about terminology, criteria, and cutoffs regarding the reverse triage selection process in Mass Casualty Incidents (MCI) and crowding.
Methods:
An e-Delphi study with a 2-part design was set up. Part 1a aimed to develop a theoretical framework of a Patient Disposition Classification Model (PDCM). Part 1b facilitated a European expert panel review of the original critical interventions and a consensus regarding their definitions and terminology. In part 2, the final critical interventions needed to be ranked on a 10-point linear numeric scale to what extent withholding or withdrawing them would lead to a Consequential Medical Event (CME). Finally, an upper limit of risk tolerance needed to be assigned to each PDCM category.
Results:
A 5-category PDCM and a universal list of 18 critical interventions, applicable for both MCI and daily crowding situations. Furthermore, an upper limit of acceptable CME risk was assigned to each PDCM category and a 10-point linear numeric scale ranking of the 18 critical interventions was achieved.
Conclusions:
The Delphi study achieved its objectives with a European consensus on terminology, criteria, and cutoffs regarding the reverse triage selection process in MCI and crowding.
