Dataset Information

Practices in Triage and Transfer of Critically Ill Patients: A Qualitative Systematic Review of Selection Criteria.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To identify and appraise articles describing criteria used to prioritize or withhold a critical care admission.

Data sources

PubMed, Embase, Medline, EBM Reviews, and CINAHL Complete databases. Gray literature searches and a manual review of references were also performed. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were followed.

Study selection

We sought all articles and abstracts of original research as well as local, provincial, or national policies on the topic of ICU resource allocation. We excluded studies whose population of interest was neonatal, pediatric, trauma, or noncritically ill. Screening of 6,633 citations was conducted.

Data extraction

Triage and/or transport criteria were extracted, based on type of article, methodology, publication year, and country. An appraisal scale was developed to assess the quality of identified articles. We also developed a robustness score to further appraise the robustness of the evidence supporting each criterion. Finally, all criteria were extracted, evaluated, and grouped by theme.

Data synthesis

One-hundred twenty-nine articles were included. These were mainly original research (34%), guidelines (26%), and reviews (21%). Among them, we identified 200 unique triage and transport criteria. Most articles highlighted an exclusion (71%) rather than a prioritization mechanism (17%). Very few articles pertained to transport of critically ill patients (4%). Criteria were classified in one of four emerging themes: patient, condition, physician, and context. The majority of criteria used were nonspecific. No study prospectively evaluated the implementation of its cited criteria.

Conclusions

This systematic review identified 200 criteria classified within four themes that may be included when devising triage programs including the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. We identified significant knowledge gaps where research would assist in improving existing triage criteria and guidelines, aiming to decrease arbitrary decisions and variability.

SUBMITTER: Dahine J

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7493782 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Practices in Triage and Transfer of Critically Ill Patients: A Qualitative Systematic Review of Selection Criteria.

Dahine Joseph J Hébert Paul C PC Ziegler Daniela D Chenail Noémie N Ferrari Nicolay N Hébert Réjean R

Critical care medicine 20201101 11

<h4>Objectives</h4>To identify and appraise articles describing criteria used to prioritize or withhold a critical care admission.<h4>Data sources</h4>PubMed, Embase, Medline, EBM Reviews, and CINAHL Complete databases. Gray literature searches and a manual review of references were also performed. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were followed.<h4>Study selection</h4>We sought all articles and abstracts of original research as well as local, provinci ...[more]

PMID: 32858530

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Dataset Information

Practices in Triage and Transfer of Critically Ill Patients: A Qualitative Systematic Review of Selection Criteria.

Objectives

Data sources

Study selection

Data extraction

Data synthesis

Conclusions

Publications

Practices in Triage and Transfer of Critically Ill Patients: A Qualitative Systematic Review of Selection Criteria.

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