ICU Triage Practices in a Cancer Hospital

The primary objective of this study is aimed at analyzing the ICU triage practices of clinicians at a cancer hospital with and without the use of an algorithm-based triage tool, and to assess whether or not the triage tool improves the consensus amongst practioners on the prioritization of patients for ICU admission. Secondary objectives include assessment of whether or not triage practices based on guidelines correlate with what is done in actual practice.

This is a prospective study designed to evaluate the ICU triage practices of clinicians at MD Anderson Cancer Center using the standard Society of Critical Care Medicine Prioritization Model (SCCMP) versus a uniquely designed flowchart-based triage tool created specifically for the oncologic setting. Study participants will initially receive either an email explaining the study and asking if they would agree to participate in the survey, or a hard copy of an identical letter. Their participation will remain anonymous, and will strictly be on a volunteer basis. If the participant wishes to participate, they will be given either a link to the survey using an institutionally improved electronic survey tool, or alternatively a hard copy of the survey with identical instructions. The survey consists of 15 fictional patient case scenarios, and participants will be asked to use the modified SCCMP to prioritize each patient scenario into one of the 5-point likert-scale categories for admission. The participants will be randomized with 1:1 ratio to use either a) the standard SCCMP or b) the SCCMP in addition to a newly designed flowchart-based triage guide to prioritize each patient case scenario into one of the 5-point likert-scale categories.