Agreement on urgency assessment between secretaries and general practitioners: an observational study in out-of-hours general practice service in Belgium. Issue 5 (3rd September 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Philips, H.; Van Bergen, J.; Huibers, L.; Colliers, A.; Bartholomeeusen, S.; Coenen, S.; Remmen, R.
• Is Part Of: Acta clinica belgica. Volume 70:Issue 5(2015)
• Page Start: 309
• Page End: 314
• Publication Date: 2015-09-03
• Subjects: After hours care -- Triage -- General practitioners -- Family practice -- Patient safety; Clinical medicine -- Periodicals; Diagnosis, Laboratory -- Periodicals; 616.005
• DOI: 10.1179/2295333715Y.0000000017
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1784-3286

Abstract

Abstract : Background: In some European countries telephone triage (TT) during out-of-hours primary care showed to be safe and effective. Other countries, such as Belgium, may not have trained auxiliary personnel while their national health services want to establish TT. Objectives: To compare urgency levels assessed by secretaries and general practitioners in one general practice cooperative in Belgium. Methods: Percentage of correct-, under-, and over-triage were calculated in total and per reason for encounter. Inter-rater agreement was investigated. Results: The secretaries correctly triaged (same urgency level) 77% of the telephone calls, under-triaged 10% and over-triaged 13%.'Shortness of breath', 'skin cuts', 'chest pain', 'feeling unwell' and 'syncope' were often under-triaged. Conclusion: Before introducing TT, auxiliary staff should be trained and protocols should be used.