Aim:

The aim of this descriptive and cross-sectional study was to determine the triage decision-making levels of healthcare professionals working in emergency departments.

Materials and Methods:

The study was conducted in the emergency departments of the hospitals in Giresun between January and February 2016. The study was completed with 54 healthcare professionals who agreed to participate. Data were collected using the Socio-Demographic Data Form and Triage Decision-Making Inventory.

Results:

There was a significant difference between the total scale scores and the status of having an emergency care certificate (U=-2.238, p<0.05). The mean score of the critical thinking subscale showed significant differences according to the healthcare professional's title, educational level, and the status of having an emergency care certificate (KW=5.974, KW=13.785, and U=-4.260, respectively; p<0.05).

Conclusion:

The total scale score and intuition subscale were higher in healthcare professionals who had an emergency care certificate. This study suggests the training of healthcare team members who perform triage and the development of triage guidelines in emergency departments.

Keywords: Emergency department, healthcare professionals, triage, triage decision-making