scholarly journals Comparative Analysis of Major Incident Triage Tools in Children. A UK population based analysis.

Author(s):  
James Vassallo ◽  
Saisakul Chernbumroong ◽  
Nabeela Malik ◽  
Yuanwei Xu ◽  
Damian Keene ◽  
...  

Introduction. Triage is a key principle in the effective management of major incidents. There is currently a paucity of evidence to guide the triage of children. The aim of this study was to perform a comparative analysis of nine adult and paediatric triage tools, including the novel Sheffield Paediatric Triage Tool (SPTT), assessing their ability in identifying patients needing life-saving interventions (LSI). Methods A ten-year retrospective database review of TARN data for paediatric patients (<16years) was performed. Primary outcome was identification of patients receiving one or more LSIs from a previously defined list. Secondary outcomes included mortality and prediction of ISS>15. Primary analysis was conducted on patients with complete pre-hospital physiological data with planned secondary analyses using first recorded physiological data. Performance characteristics were evaluated using sensitivity, specificity, under and over-triage. Results 15133 patients met TARN inclusion criteria. 4962 (32.8%) had complete pre-hospital physiological data and 8255 (54.5%) had complete first recorded data. Male patients predominated (69.5%), sustaining blunt trauma (95.4%) with a median ISS of 9. 875 patients (17.6%) received at least one LSI. The SPTT demonstrated the greatest sensitivity of all triage tools at identifying need for LSI (92.2%) but was associated with the highest rate of over-triage (75.0%). Both the PTT (sensitivity 34.1%) and JumpSTART (sensitivity 45.0%) performed less well at identifying LSI. By contrast, the adult MPTT-24 triage tool had the second highest sensitivity (80.8%) with tolerable rates of over-triage (70.2%). Conclusion The SPTT and MPTT-24 outperform existing paediatric triage tools at identifying those patients requiring LSIs. This may necessitate a change in recommended practice. Further work is needed to determine the optimum method of paediatric major incident triage, but consideration should be given to simplifying major incident triage by the use of one generic tool (the MPTT-24) for adults and children.

2021 ◽  
pp. emermed-2021-211706
Author(s):  
James Vassallo ◽  
Saisakul Chernbumroong ◽  
Nabeela Malik ◽  
Yuanwei Xu ◽  
Damian Keene ◽  
...  

IntroductionTriage is a key principle in the effective management of major incidents. There is currently a paucity of evidence to guide the triage of children. The aim of this study was to perform a comparative analysis of nine adult and paediatric triage tools, including the novel ‘Sheffield Paediatric Triage Tool’ (SPTT), assessing their ability in identifying patients needing life-saving interventions (LSIs).MethodsA 10-year (2008–2017) retrospective database review of the Trauma Audit Research Network (TARN) Database for paediatric patients (<16 years) was performed. Primary outcome was identification of patients receiving one or more LSIs from a previously defined list. Secondary outcomes included mortality and prediction of Injury Severity Score (ISS) >15. Primary analysis was conducted on patients with complete prehospital physiological data with planned secondary analyses using first recorded data. Performance characteristics were evaluated using sensitivity, specificity, undertriage and overtriage.Results15 133 patients met TARN inclusion criteria. 4962 (32.8%) had complete prehospital physiological data and 8255 (54.5%) had complete first recorded physiological data. The majority of patients were male (69.5%), with a median age of 11.9 years. The overwhelming majority of patients (95.4%) sustained blunt trauma, yielding a median ISS of 9 and overall, 875 patients (17.6%) received at least one LSI. The SPTT demonstrated the greatest sensitivity of all triage tools at identifying need for LSI (92.2%) but was associated with the highest rate of overtriage (75.0%). Both the Paediatric Triage Tape (sensitivity 34.1%) and JumpSTART (sensitivity 45.0%) performed less well at identifying LSI. By contrast, the adult Modified Physiological Triage Tool-24 (MPTT-24) triage tool had the second highest sensitivity (80.8%) with tolerable rates of overtriage (70.2%).ConclusionThe SPTT and MPTT-24 outperform existing paediatric triage tools at identifying those patients requiring LSIs. This may necessitate a change in recommended practice. Further work is needed to determine the optimum method of paediatric major incident triage, but consideration should be given to simplifying major incident triage by the use of one generic tool (the MPTT-24) for adults and children.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saisakul Chernbumroong ◽  
James Vassallo ◽  
Nabeela Malik ◽  
Yuanwei Xu ◽  
Damian Keene ◽  
...  

Background Triage is a key principle in the effective management of major incidents. However, there is an increasing body of evidence demonstrating that existing paediatric methods are associated with high rates of under-triage and are not fit for purpose. The aim of this study was to derive a novel paediatric triage tool using machine learning (ML) techniques. Methods The United Kingdom Trauma Audit Research Network (TARN) database was interrogated for all paediatric patients aged under 16 years for the ten-year period 2008-2017. Patients were categorised as Priority One if they received one or more life-saving interventions from a previously defined list. Six ML algorithms were investigated for identifying patients as Priority One. Subsequently, the best performing model was chosen for further development using a risk score approach and clinically relevant modifications in order to derive a novel triage tool (LASSO M2). Using patients with complete pre-hospital physiological data, a comparative analysis was then performed comparing this to existing pre-hospital paediatric major incident triage tools. Performance was evaluated using sensitivity, specificity, under-triage (1-sensitivity) and over-triage (1-positive predictive value). Results Complete physiological data were available for 4962 patients. The LASSO M2 model demonstrated the best performance at identifying paediatric patients in need of life-saving intervention, sensitivity 88.8% (95% CI 85.5, 91.5) and was associated with the lowest rate of under-triage, 11.2% (8.5, 14.5). In contrast, the Paediatric Triage Tape and JumpSTART both had poor sensitivity when identifying those requiring life-saving intervention (36.1% (31.8, 40.7) and 44.7% (40.2, 49.4)) respectively. Conclusion The ML derived triage tool (LASSO M2) outperforms existing methods of paediatric major incident triage at identifying patients in need of life-saving intervention. Prior to its recommendation for clinical use, further work is required to externally validate its performance and undertake a feasibility assessment in a clinical context.


Stroke ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 51 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Julian N Acosta ◽  
Cameron Both ◽  
Stacy Brown ◽  
Audrey Leasure ◽  
Kevin N Vanent ◽  
...  

Introduction: Animal and observational studies indicate that smoking is a risk factor for aneurysm formation and rupture, leading to subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). However, a definitive causal relationship between smoking and SAH has not been established. We leveraged the causal properties of mutation-disease associations to test the hypothesis that smoking is causally linked to SAH. Methods: We conducted a one-sample Mendelian Randomization (MR) study within the UK Biobank, a prospective, population-based observational study. We restricted the analysis to study participants with genetically-confirmed European ancestry. SAH cases were ascertained using previously validated codes. As the instrument, we built a polygenic risk score (PRS) using independent (R2<0.1) genetic variants known to be associated (p<5x10-8) with smoking. For the primary MR analysis, we implemented the ratio method using the estimates obtained from testing the PRS for association with risk of SAH and smoking. In secondary analyses, we implemented the inverse-variance weighted (IVW) and weighted median (WM) methods. Pleiotropy was assessed via the MR-Egger approach. Results: We included a total of 408,622 individuals in this study (mean age 57 [SD 8], female sex 220,944 [54%]). Of these, 132,568 (32%) ever smoked regularly and 904 (0.22%) had an SAH. Each additional standard deviation of the smoking PRS was associated with a 9% increased risk of SAH (OR 1.09, 95%CI 1.03-1.17; p=0.006) and 21% increased risk of smoking (OR 1.21, 95%CI 1.2-1.21; p=1x10-16). In the primary analysis, genetically-determined smoking was associated with a 63% increase in risk of SAH (OR 1.63, 95%CI 1.15-2.30; p=0.006). Secondary analyses using the IVW method (OR 1.57, 95%CI 1.13-2.17; p=0.007) and the WM method (OR 1.74, 95%CI 1.06-2.86; p=0.028) yielded comparable results. There was no significant pleiotropy (MR-Egger intercept p=0.38). Conclusion: Genetically-determined smoking is strongly associated with the risk of SAH. These findings provide evidence for a causal link between smoking and the occurrence of this often-debilitating condition. Interventions aimed at reducing smoking behavior could offer significant benefits, especially to those at high risk of SAH.


Stroke ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 52 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronda Lun ◽  
Greg B Walker ◽  
David Weisenburger-Lile ◽  
Bertrand Lapergue ◽  
Adrien Guenego ◽  
...  

Background: Hematoma expansion (HE) is an important therapeutic target in intracerebral hemorrhage. Recently proposed HE definitions have not been validated, and no previous definition has accounted for withdrawal of care (WOC). Objective: To compare conventional and revised definitions of hematoma expansion (HE), while accounting for WOC. Methods: We analyzed data from the ATACH-2 trial, comparing revised definitions of HE incorporating intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) expansion to the conventional definition of “≥6 mL or ≥33%”. The primary outcome was modified Rankin Scale of 4-6 at 90-days. We calculated the incidence, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and c- statistic for all definitions of HE. Definitions were compared using non-parametric methods. Secondary analyses were performed after removing patients who experienced WOC. Results: Primary analysis included 948 patients. Using the conventional definition, the sensitivity was 37.1% and specificity was 83.2% for the primary outcome. Sensitivity improved with all three revised definitions (53.3%, 48.7%, and 45.3%, respectively), with minimal change to specificity (78.4%, 80.5%, and 81.0%, respectively). The greatest improvement was seen with the definition “≥6 mL or ≥33% or any IVH”, with increased c -statistic from 60.2% to 65.9% (p < 0.001). Secondary analysis excluded 46 participants who experienced WOC. The revised definitions outperformed the conventional definition in this population as well, with the greatest improvement in c -statistic using “≥6 mL or ≥33% or any IVH” (58.1% vs 64.1%, p < 0.001). Conclusions: HE definitions incorporating intraventricular expansion outperformed conventional definitions for predicting poor outcome, even after accounting for care limitations.


2019 ◽  
Vol 36 (5) ◽  
pp. 281-286
Author(s):  
James Vassallo ◽  
Jason Smith

IntroductionA key principle in the effective management of major incidents is triage, the process of prioritising patients on the basis of their clinical acuity. In many countries including the UK, a two-stage approach to triage is practised, with primary triage at the scene followed by a more detailed assessment using a secondary triage process, the Triage Sort. To date, no studies have analysed the performance of the Triage Sort in the civilian setting. The primary aim of this study was to determine the performance of the Triage Sort at predicting the need for life-saving intervention (LSI).MethodsUsing the Trauma Audit Research Network (TARN) database for all adult patients (>18 years) between 2006 and 2014, we determined which patients received one or more LSIs using a previously defined list. The first recorded hospital physiology was used to categorise patient priority using the Triage Sort, National Ambulance Resilience Unit (NARU) Sieve and the Modified Physiological Triage Tool-24 (MPTT-24). Performance characteristics were evaluated using sensitivity and specificity with statistical analysis using a McNemar’s test.Results127 233patients (58.1%) had complete data and were included: 55.6% men, aged 61.4 (IQR 43.1–80.0 years), ISS 9 (IQR 9–16), with 24 791 (19.5%) receiving at least one LSI (priority 1). The Triage Sort demonstrated the lowest accuracy of all triage tools at identifying the need for LSI (sensitivity 15.7% (95% CI 15.2 to 16.2) correlating with the highest rate of under-triage (84.3% (95% CI 83.8 to 84.8), but it had the greatest specificity (98.7% (95% CI 98.6 to 98.8).ConclusionWithin a civilian trauma registry population, the Triage Sort demonstrated the poorest performance at identifying patients in need of LSI. Its use as a secondary triage tool should be reviewed, with an urgent need for further research to determine the optimum method of secondary triage.


2018 ◽  
Vol 166 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Vassallo ◽  
S Horne ◽  
J E Smith

Major incidents occur on a regular basis. So far in 2017, England has witnessed five terrorism-related major incidents, resulting in approximately 40 fatalities and 400 injured. Triage is a key principle in the effective management of a major incident and involves prioritising patients on the basis of their clinical acuity. This paper describes the limitations associated with existing methods of primary major incident triage and the process of developing a new and improved triage tool—the Modified Physiological Triage Tool-24 (MPTT-24). Whilst the MPTT-24 is likely to be the optimum physiological method for primary major incident triage, it needs to be accompanied by an appropriate secondary triage process. The existing UK military and civilian secondary triage tool, the Triage Sort, is described, which offers little advantage over primary methods for identifying patients who require life-saving intervention. Further research is required to identify the optimum method of secondary triage.


2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 474-491
Author(s):  
G.V. Belekhova

Subject This article deals with the issues of determining the level of financial literacy, identifying problems, and comparing the financial literacy rates of the population of different areas. Objectives The article aims to identify territorial differences in the overall level of financial literacy of the population of the Northwestern Federal District regions and study the prevalence of problems related to the family budget, using financial products, and risk. Methods For the study, we used a sociological survey and an original methodology for indexing the level of financial literacy of the population based on the methodology of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, taking into account the adults' financial competence system proposed by the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation. Results The article determines the level of financial literacy of the Northwestern Federal District population and identifies similar problems for the District's regions. Conclusions A comparative analysis of the components of financial literacy of the four regions reveals the strengths and weaknesses of each of them. This will help adjust financial literacy programmes being implemented in some regions and developed in others.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chia-Chin Li ◽  
Chih-Yi Chen ◽  
Ying-Hsiang Chou ◽  
Chih-Jen Huang ◽  
Hsiu-Ying Ku ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The role of radiotherapy for cT4bNanyM0 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESqCC) is relatively unclear, with both chemotherapy (C/T) alone and definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy (dCCRT) being treatment options in the current guidelines. We aimed to compare the survival of dCCRT versus C/T for these patients via a population-based approach. Methods Eligible cT4b ESqCC patients diagnosed between 2011 and 2017 were identified via the Taiwan Cancer Registry. We used propensity score (PS) weighting to balance the observable potential confounders between groups. The hazard ratio (HR) of death and incidence of esophageal cancer mortality (IECM) were compared between dCCRT and C/T. We also evaluated OS in subgroups of either low or standard radiotherapy doses. Results Our primary analysis consisted of 247 patients in whom covariates were well balanced after PS weighing. The HR for death when dCCRT was compared with C/T was 0.36 (95% confidence interval 0.24–0.53, P < 0.001). Similar results were found for IECM. Statistical significance was only observed in the standard RT dose but not in the low dose in subgroup analyses. Conclusions In this population-based nonrandomized study of cT4bNanyM0 ESqCC patients from Asia (Taiwan), we found that the use of radiotherapy with chemotherapy was associated with better overall survival than chemotherapy alone. Further studies (especially RCTs) are needed to confirm our findings.


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