Community Knowledge and Attitude Towards the Emergency Triage System at a Tertiary Hospital in Oman

There is a dearth of research in Oman regarding public knowledge and attitudes regarding the triage protocols for prioritizing patients for emergency care. This study aimed to investigate this at the emergency department (ED) of a tertiary referral hospital in Muscat, Oman.

This cross-sectional study was conducted from September to November 2019. Adult Omanis visiting the hospital's outpatient clinics or the ED during this period were selected using a consecutive convenience sampling strategy. A self-administered questionnaire was designed and used to assess the participants' knowledge and attitudes regarding the triage process used in the ED.

A total of 572 Omani adults participated in the survey (response rate: 77.3%). The majority were female (56.8%). Most participants were educated to high school or bachelor's degree level (74.7%). Overall, less than half of the sample (41.8%) demonstrated adequate knowledge of proper ED utilization, with male participants (p = 0.005) and those with a history of previous ED visits (p = 0.001) demonstrating significantly better knowledge than their respective counterparts. Knowledge of the factors used to make triaging decisions ranged from 28.5% (patient's medical history) to 67.3% (vital signs). Most participants agreed that the triage system helped to prioritize emergency cases (84.8%), improved the quality of ED care (80.9%), and reduced overcrowding (76.2%). Although 59.1% still preferred to visit the ED for non-emergent indications to receive same-day care, 48.4% stated they would accept redirection to a primary health center if requested.

This study's findings revealed the necessity of increasing awareness of appropriate indications for ED visits in Oman, as well as specific factors used in the ED triage process. This would help to ensure appropriate health resource utilization, avoid ED overcrowding and lengthy wait times, and increase overall levels of patient satisfaction and confidence in the healthcare system.