Emergency Severity Index: accuracy in risk classification

OBJECTIVE: To verify agreement between estimative of predicted resources using the adapted Emergency Severity Index and the real amount of resources used by patients. To analyze the variables number of years since graduation, years of work experience and years of experience in emergency services especially with accurate anticipation of resources need. METHODS: This retrospective analytical study with a quantitative approach included 538 medical records of patients assisted by 11 triage nurses. Data collected were related to assistances carried out from December 2012 to February 2013. RESULTS: There was no significant association between the adequacy of the number of resources used, based on Emergency Severity Index score, number of years since graduation, year of work experience or years of experience in emergency services. Kappa agreement coefficient (0.34) showed that agreement was low between predicted and real used number of resources. CONCLUSION: Nurses’ accuracy index to predict resources for patients care from emergency room using the adapted Emergency Severity Index was lower than results reported in the studies in the literature that used the original scale. There was low agreement of diagnostic exams predicted by nurses and those really performed. There was no association among correct prediction of resources needed, number of years since graduation, years of experience in emergency services and years of work experience in the unit where the study was done.