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Considine J, Casey P, Omonaiye O, van Gulik N, Allen J, Currey J. Importance of specific vital signs in nurses' recognition and response to deteriorating patients: A scoping review. J Clin Nurs 2024. [PMID: 38454551 DOI: 10.1111/jocn.17099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
AIM(S) To explore the published research related to nurses' documentation and use of vital signs in recognising and responding to deteriorating patients. DESIGN Scoping review of international, peer-reviewed research studies. DATA SOURCES Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature Complete, Medline Complete, American Psychological Association PsycInfo and Excerpta Medica were searched on 25 July 2023. REPORTING METHOD Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for scoping reviews. RESULTS Of 3880 potentially eligible publications, 32 were included. There were 26 studies of nurses' vital sign documentation: 21 adults and five paediatric. The most and least frequently documented vital signs were blood pressure and respiratory rate respectively. Seven studies focused on vital signs and rapid response activation or afferent limb failure. Five studies of vital signs used to trigger the rapid response system showed heart rate was the most frequent and respiratory rate and conscious state were the least frequent. Heart rate was least likely and oxygen saturation was most likely to be associated with afferent limb failure (n = 4 studies). CONCLUSION Despite high reliance on using vital signs to recognise clinical deterioration and activate a response to deteriorating patients in hospital settings, nurses' documentation of vital signs and use of vital signs to activate rapid response systems is poorly understood. There were 21studies of nurses' vital sign documentation in adult patients and five studies related to children. IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION AND/OR PATIENT CARE A deeper understanding of nurses' decisions to assess (or not assess) specific vital signs, analysis of the value or importance nurses place (or not) on specific vital sign parameters is warranted. The influence of patient characteristics (such as age) or the clinical practice setting, and the impact of nurses' workflows of vital sign assessment warrants further investigation. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION No Patient or Public Contribution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Considine
- School of Nursing and Midwifery and Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research in the Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
- Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research-Eastern Health Partnership, Eastern Health, Box Hill, Victoria, Australia
| | - Penelope Casey
- School of Nursing and Midwifery and Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research in the Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
- Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research-Eastern Health Partnership, Eastern Health, Box Hill, Victoria, Australia
| | - Olumuyiwa Omonaiye
- School of Nursing and Midwifery and Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research in the Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
- Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research-Eastern Health Partnership, Eastern Health, Box Hill, Victoria, Australia
| | - Nantanit van Gulik
- School of Nursing and Midwifery and Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research in the Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
- Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research-Eastern Health Partnership, Eastern Health, Box Hill, Victoria, Australia
| | - Joshua Allen
- Department of Nursing, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Judy Currey
- School of Nursing and Midwifery and Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research in the Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
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Improving the prioritization of children at the emergency department: Updating the Manchester Triage System using vital signs. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0246324. [PMID: 33561116 PMCID: PMC7872278 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0246324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Vital signs are used in emergency care settings in the first assessment of children to identify those that need immediate attention. We aimed to develop and validate vital sign based Manchester Triage System (MTS) discriminators to improve triage of children at the emergency department. Methods and findings The TrIAGE project is a prospective observational study based on electronic health record data from five European EDs (Netherlands (n = 2), United Kingdom, Austria, and Portugal). In the current study, we included 117,438 consecutive children <16 years presenting to the ED during the study period (2012–2015). We derived new discriminators based on heart rate, respiratory rate, and/or capillary refill time for specific subgroups of MTS flowcharts. Moreover, we determined the optimal cut-off value for each vital sign. The main outcome measure was a previously developed 3-category reference standard (high, intermediate, low urgency) for the required urgency of care, based on mortality at the ED, immediate lifesaving interventions, disposition and resource use. We determined six new discriminators for children <1 year and ≥1 year: “Very abnormal respiratory rate”, “Abnormal heart rate”, and “Abnormal respiratory rate”, with optimal cut-offs, and specific subgroups of flowcharts. Application of the modified MTS reclassified 744 patients (2.5%). Sensitivity increased from 0.66 (95%CI 0.60–0.72) to 0.71 (0.66–0.75) for high urgency patients and from 0.67 (0.54–0.76) to 0.70 (0.58–0.80) for high and intermediate urgency patients. Specificity decreased from 0.90 (0.86–0.93) to 0.89 (0.85–0.92) for high and 0.66 (0.52–0.78) to 0.63 (0.50–0.75) for high and intermediate urgency patients. These differences were statistically significant. Overall performance improved (R2 0.199 versus 0.204). Conclusions Six new discriminators based on vital signs lead to a small but relevant increase in performance and should be implemented in the MTS.
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Koon W, Schmidt A, Queiroga AC, Sempsrott J, Szpilman D, Webber J, Brander R. Need for consistent beach lifeguard data collection: results from an international survey. Inj Prev 2020; 27:308-315. [PMID: 32737057 DOI: 10.1136/injuryprev-2020-043793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2020] [Revised: 07/04/2020] [Accepted: 07/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lifeguards are integral to beach safety and collect data which is used for a variety of purposes, although guidelines and best practice have yet to be established. This study served to identify and characterise existing beach lifeguard service provider (BLSP) data collection procedures in order to identify the degree of uniformity and areas for improvement. METHODS The 'International Beach Lifeguard Data Collection and Reporting' online survey was distributed via the International Drowning Researchers' Alliance to BLSP supervisors and managers. The survey included questions on beach conditions and lifeguard activity data collection practices, and respondent's opinions on their own BLSP's methods. RESULTS Variability in data collection practices was evident in surveys obtained from 55 lifeguard leaders in 12 countries. Discrepancies exist in definitions for 'rescue' among BLSPs, a significant amount of information related to beach conditions are recorded and beach visitation is primarily obtained by visual estimate. Respondents expressed challenges with getting frontline staff to collect information in the field and ensuring reporting consistency between recorders. They identified rescue victim demographic factors as key data they would like to collect in the future. CONCLUSIONS Inconsistencies in lifeguard data collection present challenges to operations, safety education and prevention efforts, research and policy relying on these data. Variation in definitions, methods and collected variables generally restricts analysis to a single BLSP with limited generalisability to other beach settings. Some gaps in lifeguard data collection may soon be addressed by technology, but developing uniform, internationally acceptable standards and definitions should be prioritised.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Koon
- School of Biological Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia .,International Drowning Researchers' Alliance, Kuna, Idaho, USA
| | - Andrew Schmidt
- International Drowning Researchers' Alliance, Kuna, Idaho, USA.,Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine-Jacksonville, Jacksonville, Florida, USA.,Lifeguards Without Borders, Kuna, Idaho, USA
| | - Ana Catarina Queiroga
- International Drowning Researchers' Alliance, Kuna, Idaho, USA.,EPIUnit, Universidade do Porto Instituto de Saúde Pública, Porto, Portugal
| | - Justin Sempsrott
- International Drowning Researchers' Alliance, Kuna, Idaho, USA.,Lifeguards Without Borders, Kuna, Idaho, USA
| | - David Szpilman
- International Drowning Researchers' Alliance, Kuna, Idaho, USA.,Brazilian Lifesaving Society-SOBRASA, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Jonathon Webber
- International Drowning Researchers' Alliance, Kuna, Idaho, USA.,Surf Lifesaving New Zealand, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Robert Brander
- School of Biological Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,International Drowning Researchers' Alliance, Kuna, Idaho, USA
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Zachariasse JM, Nieboer D, Maconochie IK, Smit FJ, Alves CF, Greber-Platzer S, Tsolia MN, Steyerberg EW, Avillach P, van der Lei J, Moll HA. Development and validation of a Paediatric Early Warning Score for use in the emergency department: a multicentre study. THE LANCET CHILD & ADOLESCENT HEALTH 2020; 4:583-591. [PMID: 32710839 DOI: 10.1016/s2352-4642(20)30139-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2020] [Revised: 04/29/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Paediatric Early Warning Scores (PEWSs) are being used increasingly in hospital wards to identify children at risk of clinical deterioration, but few scores exist that were designed for use in emergency care settings. To improve the prioritisation of children in the emergency department (ED), we developed and validated an ED-PEWS. METHODS The TrIAGE project is a prospective European observational study based on electronic health record data collected between Jan 1, 2012, and Nov 1, 2015, from five diverse EDs in four European countries (Netherlands, the UK, Austria, and Portugal). This study included data from all consecutive ED visits of children under age 16 years. The main outcome measure was a three-category reference standard (high, intermediate, low urgency) that was developed as part of the TrIAGE project as a proxy for true patient urgency. The ED-PEWS was developed based on an ordinal logistic regression model, with cross-validation by setting. After completing the study, we fully externally validated the ED-PEWS in an independent cohort of febrile children from a different ED (Greece). FINDINGS Of 119 209 children, 2007 (1·7%) were of high urgency and 29 127 (24·4%) of intermediate urgency, according to our reference standard. We developed an ED-PEWS consisting of age and the predictors heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, consciousness, capillary refill time, and work of breathing. The ED-PEWS showed a cross-validated c-statistic of 0·86 (95% prediction interval 0·82-0·90) for high-urgency patients and 0·67 (0·61-0·73) for high-urgency or intermediate-urgency patients. A cutoff of score of at least 15 was useful for identifying high-urgency patients with a specificity of 0·90 (95% CI 0·87-0·92) while a cutoff score of less than 6 was useful for identifying low-urgency patients with a sensitivity of 0·83 (0·81-0·85). INTERPRETATION The proposed ED-PEWS can assist in identifying high-urgency and low-urgency patients in the ED, and improves prioritisation compared with existing PEWSs. FUNDING Stichting de Drie Lichten, Stichting Sophia Kinderziekenhuis Fonds, and the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joany M Zachariasse
- Department of General Paediatrics, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Daan Nieboer
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Ian K Maconochie
- Department of Paediatric Emergency Medicine, Imperial College NHS Healthcare Trust, London, UK
| | - Frank J Smit
- Department of Paediatrics, Maasstad Hospital, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Claudio F Alves
- Department of Paediatrics, Emergency Unit, Hospital Professor Doutor Fernando da Fonseca, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Susanne Greber-Platzer
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Maria N Tsolia
- National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Second Department of Paediatrics, P and A Kyriakou Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Ewout W Steyerberg
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands; Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Paul Avillach
- Department of Medical Informatics, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands; Harvard Medical School, Department of Biomedical Informatics, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Johan van der Lei
- Department of Medical Informatics, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Henriëtte A Moll
- Department of General Paediatrics, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands.
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Tønsager K, Rehn M, Ringdal KG, Lossius HM, Virkkunen I, Østerås Ø, Røislien J, Krüger AJ. Collecting core data in physician-staffed pre-hospital helicopter emergency medical services using a consensus-based template: international multicentre feasibility study in Finland and Norway. BMC Health Serv Res 2019; 19:151. [PMID: 30849977 PMCID: PMC6408770 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-019-3976-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2018] [Accepted: 02/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Comparison of services and identification of factors important for favourable patient outcomes in emergency medical services (EMS) is challenging due to different organization and quality of data. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the feasibility of physician-staffed EMS (p-EMS) to collect patient and system level data by using a consensus-based template. METHODS The study was an international multicentre observational study. Data were collected according to a template for uniform reporting of data from p-EMS using two different data collection methods; a standard and a focused data collection method. For the standard data collection, data were extracted retrospectively for one year from all FinnHEMS bases and for the focused data collection, data were collected prospectively for six weeks from four selected Norwegian p-EMS bases. Completeness rates for the two data collection methods were then compared and factors affecting completeness rates and template feasibility were evaluated. Standard Chi-Square, Fisher's Exact Test and Mann-Whitney U Test were used for group comparison of categorical and continuous data, respectively, and Kolomogorov-Smirnov test for comparison of distributional properties. RESULTS All missions with patient encounters were included, leaving 4437 Finnish and 128 Norwegian missions eligible for analysis. Variable completeness rates indicated that physiological variables were least documented. Information on pain and respiratory rate were the most frequently missing variables with a standard data collection method and systolic blood pressure was the most missing variable with a focused data collection method. Completeness rates were similar or higher when patients were considered severely ill or injured but were lower for missions with short patient encounter. When a focused data collection method was used, completeness rates were higher compared to a standard data collection method. CONCLUSIONS We found that a focused data collection method increased data capture compared to a standard data collection method. The concept of using a template for documentation of p-EMS data is feasible in physician-staffed services in Finland and Norway. The greatest deficiencies in completeness rates were evident for physiological parameters. Short missions were associated with lower completeness rates whereas severe illness or injury did not result in reduced data capture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin Tønsager
- The Norwegian Air Ambulance Foundation, Oslo, Norway. .,Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Stavanger University Hospital, Stavanger, Norway. .,Department of Health Studies, University of Stavanger, Stavanger, Norway.
| | - Marius Rehn
- The Norwegian Air Ambulance Foundation, Oslo, Norway.,Department of Health Studies, University of Stavanger, Stavanger, Norway.,Pre-hospital Division, Air Ambulance Department, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Kjetil G Ringdal
- Department of Anesthesiology, Vestfold Hospital Trust, Tønsberg, Norway.,Division of Emergencies and Critical Care, Department of Anesthesiology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.,Norwegian Trauma Registry, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Hans Morten Lossius
- The Norwegian Air Ambulance Foundation, Oslo, Norway.,Department of Health Studies, University of Stavanger, Stavanger, Norway
| | | | - Øyvind Østerås
- Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Jo Røislien
- The Norwegian Air Ambulance Foundation, Oslo, Norway.,Department of Health Studies, University of Stavanger, Stavanger, Norway
| | - Andreas J Krüger
- The Norwegian Air Ambulance Foundation, Oslo, Norway.,Department of Emergency Medicine and Pre-Hospital Services, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
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Blacklock C, Haj-Hassan TA, Thompson MJ. When and how do GPs record vital signs in children with acute infections? A cross-sectional study. Br J Gen Pract 2012; 62:e679-86. [PMID: 23265227 PMCID: PMC3459775 DOI: 10.3399/bjgp12x656810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2011] [Revised: 01/25/2012] [Accepted: 05/09/2012] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND NICE recommendations and evidence from ambulatory settings promotes the use of vital signs in identifying serious infections in children. This appears to differ from usual clinical practice where GPs report measuring vital signs infrequently. AIM To identify frequency of vital sign documentation by GPs, in the assessment of children with acute infections in primary care. DESIGN AND SETTING Observational study in 15 general practice surgeries in Oxfordshire and Somerset, UK. METHOD A standardised proforma was used to extract consultation details including documentation of numerical vital signs, and words or phrases used by the GP in assessing vital signs, for 850 children aged 1 month to 16 years presenting with acute infection. RESULTS Of the children presenting with acute infections 31.6% had one or more numerical vital signs recorded (269, 31.6%), however GP recording rate improved if free text proxies were also considered: at least one vital sign was then recorded in over half (54.1%) of children. In those with recorded numerical values for vital signs, the most frequent was temperature (210, 24.7%), followed by heart rate (62, 7.3%), respiratory rate (58, 6.8%), and capillary refill time (36, 4.2%). Words or phrases for vital signs were documented infrequently (temperature 17.6%, respiratory rate 14.6%, capillary refill time 12.5%, and heart rate 0.5%), Text relating to global assessment was documented in 313/850 (36.8%) of consultations. CONCLUSION GPs record vital signs using words and phrases as well as numerical methods, although overall documentation of vital signs is infrequent in children presenting with acute infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Blacklock
- Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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Improving vital sign documentation at triage: an emergency department quality improvement project. J Patient Saf 2012; 7:26-9. [PMID: 21921864 DOI: 10.1097/pts.0b013e31820c9895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Improving the quality and safety of patients seen in an emergency department (ED) has become a priority in Italy. The Tuscan Regional Health Ministry has supported quality improvement projects in several Tuscan EDs in cooperation with Harvard Medical International and Harvard Medical School. OBJECTIVE To improve the triage process, we assessed the completeness of documenting the vital signs of patients seen at triage in the ED of the University Hospital Santa Chiara, Pisa, Italy. At the University Hospital of Pisa's ED, triage is based on 5 categories, each identified by a color: white (lowest priority), blue, green, yellow, and red (highest priority). For patients triaged as "yellow," blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen saturation are considered mandatory vital signs and important components of a complete patient record. The aims of this project were as follows: 1) to assess the percentage of patients seen during ED triage in whom vital signs were recorded in the clinical record, 2) to analyze the reasons for missing vital sign data, and 3) to design and implement a strategy to improve the percentage of patients in whom vital signs were recorded. METHODS This project began in November 2005 with the identification of a multidisciplinary ED Quality Team. Faculty from Harvard Medical School provided a 2-day training course on the methods and tools of clinical quality improvement. After the training, the team defined their improvement project. The clinical quality improvement project followed a Plan-Do-Study-Act cycle. Preintervention and postintervention data collection consisted of a retrospective analysis of one-third of all patients triaged in the "yellow" category who were admitted to the ED during 1 month, randomly selected using a computer-generated list. RESULTS A total of 245 clinical records in the preintervention (March 2006) and 251 (April-May 2007) during the postintervention were included. We found that in 77.9% (191/245) of these records, vital signs were correctly recorded during the preintervention period. Patients with limb trauma and those with abdominal complaints represented the vast majority of patients in whom vital sign data were missing. The postintervention data revealed an improvement in the documentation of mandatory vital signs from 77.9% to 87.9%. CONCLUSIONS Creating a multidisciplinary team and implementing a formal quality improvement project improved vital sign documentation at triage for a group of patients seen during ED triage in 1 Italian hospital.
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