Development and validity of the Korea psychiatric triage algorithm

BACKGROUND: Psychiatric emergencies require timely intervention because of the risk of harm to individuals and society, including others. The aim of the present study was to test the content validity of a psychiatric triage algorithm developed for use in South Korea. METHODS: The initial algorithm was developed through systematic literature review. Its validity was then verified by 10 experts. Based on results of expert validity, the algorithm was modified and the final algorithm was developed. RESULTS: Its clinical validity was then verified by 37 emergency room nurses who had used triage. Four questions of expert validity results with a CVI of 0.8 or less were revised to reflect expert opinion. The usefulness, adequacy, and convenience of the final modified algorithm was 2.98 ~ 3.53. CONCLUSION: After sufficiently validated by follow-up studies, it is expected that the use of psychiatric classification algorithms in emergency room nurses will not only improve the quality of care, but also can improve patient outcomes and experience.