Triage nurse perceptions of the use, reliability and acceptability of the Toowoomba Adult Triage Trauma Tool (TATTT).
OBJECTIVE
The 'Toowoomba Adult Triage Trauma Tool' (TATTT) is a computerised clinical decision support tool developed to provide an evidence-based, valid and consistent method of triage assessment and categorisation. The objective of this study was to determine the most appropriate training and testing strategy for implementing the TATTT and to evaluate its acceptability for assisting in the triage prioritization process.


METHODS
Triage nurses (15) from two hospitals underwent training in the TATTT and were tested on its application. Semi-structured interviews gathered their perceptions of the training, the methods for testing and the acceptability of the TATTT for assisting in triage.


RESULTS
The TATTT was viewed positively by all but one of the nurses. Participants believed that it provided clear direction in the triage assessment process, increased their confidence in reaching a decision and would be comfortable in adopting the TATTT in clinical practice.


CONCLUSIONS
The study has shown that the TATTT is acceptable to users and is viewed as a viable alternative to current triage practice.
Eley
Diann
D
School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Rural Clinical Division, Locked Bag 9009, Toowoomba, Qld 4350, Australia. eleydi@usq.edu.au
Hegney
Desley
D
Wollaston
Anthony
A
Fahey
Paul
P
Miller
Peter
P
McKay
Michelle
M
Wollaston
James
J
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D016529:Emergency Nursing; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D011793:Queensland; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices; D014218:Triage; D014739:Victoria