Comparison accuracy of initial triage scale (ESI and ATS) for predicting intensive care needs in the emergency room
DOI: https://doi.org/10.33024/hjk.v20i7.3931
Australian Triage Scale Emergency Department Emergency Severity Index Intensive Care Triase
Abstract
Background: High patient visits are often disproportionate to the availability of health workers, medical facilities, and intensive care capacity. This condition requires the implementation of a triage system that is able to accurately sort patients based on their clinical urgency. Inaccuracies in triage prioritization can reduce the quality of service and jeopardize patient safety, so the selection of the right triage scale is an important issue in daily clinical practice.
Purpose: To measure the accuracy of ESI and ATS in predicting the need for intensive care.
Method: A systematic review was conducted by 4 major databases including Scopus, ProQuest, Science Direct and PubMed, during the last ten years of publications 2015 to 2025 published in English. Data extraction includes research design, chacarteristic responders and interventions, and outcomes. Bias was assessed using JBI Critical Appraisal Tools for Cross sectional study and Quasy experimental.
Results: A total of ten studies (n = 10) were assessed by a JBI critical assessment from 75% to 88% included in the final analysis, different countries with samples varying between 51 to 7,765 patients analyzed. The results showed that ATS was more consistent in predicting ICU admission needs, while ESI was superior in estimating the use of medical resources.
Conclusion: Both ESI and ATS have their own advantages and limitations in predicting the need for intensive care in the emergency room. ATS is more stable in assessing clinical urgency, while ESI is more practical for predicting resource utilization. The selection of triage scales should be adjusted to the context of the service and the characteristics of the patient, even the combination of the two through technological support can be a strategy to improve accuracy and patient safety.
Keywords: Australian Triage Scale; Emergency Department; Emergency Severity Index; Intensive Care; Triase.
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