Limitations in validating emergency department triage scales.
OBJECTIVE
To examine whether current validation methods of emergency department triage scales actually assess the instrument's validity.


METHODS
Optimal methods of emergency department triage scale validation are examined in developed countries and their application to developing countries is considered.


CONCLUSIONS
Numerous limitations are embedded in the process of validating triage scales. Methods of triage scale validation in developed countries may not be appropriate and repeatable in developing countries. Even in developed countries there are problems in conceptualising validation methods. A new consensus building validation approach has been constructed and recommended for a developing country setting. The Delphi method, a consensual validation process, is advanced as a more appropriate alternative for validating triage scales in developing countries.
Twomey
Michele
M
School of Public Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa. satriage@webmail.co.za
Wallis
Lee A
LA
Myers
Jonathan E
JE
D003697:Delphi Technique; D003906:Developing Countries; D004630:Emergencies; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014218:Triage / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*