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Table 3 Factors associated with potential under-triage: mixed effects regression modelling results

From: Safety and accuracy of digitally supported primary and secondary urgent care telephone triage in England: an observational study using routine data

 

Model 1: Odds of potential under-triage, where secondary triage > = care within 24 h selected, and patient subsequently assessed as requiring immediate or very urgent emergency care in ED

  

Model 2: Odds of potential under-triage, where secondary triage > = care within 24 h selected in patients subsequently admitted for inpatient care

OR (95% CI)

Jointp-value

OR (95% CI)

Jointp-value

Sex

      

Male

1.09 (0.87–1.35)

0.455

  

0.98 (0.86–1.12)

0.784

Female

Ref

   

ref

 

Main presenting symptom

   

Main presenting symptom

  

Abdominal pain

Ref

  

Abdominal pain

ref

 

High Temperature

1.66 (1.01–2.73)

  

High Temperature

1.25 (0.93–1.68)

 

Cough

1.51 (0.90–2.53)

  

Cough

1.33 (0.97–1.82)

 

Breathlessness

0.90 (0.52–1.55)

  

Vomiting

0.95 (0.68–1.35)

 

Rash

0.90 (0.49–1.67)

  

Rash

1.24 (0.84–1.82)

 

Chest Pain

0.71 (0.37–1.36)

  

Breathlessness

0.58 (0.40–0.84)

 

Vomiting

0.99 (0.50–1.98)

0.020

 

Unwell

1.10 (0.74–1.64)

< 0.001

Unwell

1.25 (0.58–2.70)

  

Urinary Symptoms

1.49 (1.00–2.23)

 

Palpitations

0.57 (0.23–1.41)

  

Diarrhoea

1.81 (1.18–2.76)

 

Back pain

1.06 (0.43–2.60)

  

Back pain

1.32 (0.87–1.99)

 

Other

1.41 (0.94–2.11)

  

Other

1.33 (1.10–1.62)

 

IMD Decile

      

1 (most deprived)

0.75 (0.47–1.22)

   

0.78 (0.58–1.03)

 

2

0.81 (0.48–1.37)

   

0.81 (0.60–1.10)

 

3

0.82 (0.48–1.39)

   

0.78 (0.57–1.07)

 

4

0.77 (0.44–1.34)

   

0.88 (0.63–1.23)

 

5

0.65 (0.35–1.19)

0.968

  

0.89 (0.63–1.26)

0.601

6

Ref

   

ref

 

7

0.67 (0.34–1.33)

   

0.79 (0.54–1.13)

 

8

0.71 (0.37–1.37)

   

0.92 (0.65–1.30)

 

9

0.72 (0.35–1.46)

   

1.03 (0.71–1.50)

 

10 (least deprived)

0.85 (0.40–1.77)

   

0.88 (0.58–1.34)

 

Age Group

      

Infancy - under 24 months

1.14 (0.67–1.92)

   

1.19 (0.88–1.61)

 

2–4 (young child)

1.48 (0.86–2.55)

   

1.16 (0.82–1.64)

 

5–15 (child)

1.19 (0.68–2.08)

   

1.07 (0.77–1.50)

 

16–24 (young adult)

1.32 (0.75–2.33)

   

0.90 (0.65–1.26)

 

25–34

0.77 (0.44–1.36)

   

0.87 (0.64–1.19)

 

35–44

1.27 (0.69–2.33)

0.1419

  

1.03 (0.73–1.46)

0.0169

45–54

Ref

   

ref

 

55–64

0.96 (0.53–1.73)

   

0.79 (0.56–1.10)

 

65–74

0.85 (0.46–1.55)

   

0.89 (0.65–1.23)

 

75–84

0.71 (0.39–1.30)

   

0.72 (0.53–0.99)

 

85 and over

0.83 (0.44–1.54)

   

0.76 (0.55–1.06)

 

Service

      

Service 1

3.21 (2.09–4.93)

   

2.45 (1.76–3.42)

 

Service 2

7.14 (3.74–13.63)

< 0.001

  

5.61 (3.36–9.36)

< 0.001

Service 3

Ref

   

ref

 

Day of Week

      

Sunday

0.60 (0.40–0.90)

   

0.94 (0.73–1.22)

 

Monday

0.74 (0.46–1.19)

   

1.44 (1.08–1.93)

 

Tuesday

1.22 (0.76–1.95)

   

1.37 (1.02–1.85)

 

Wednesday

Ref

0.008

  

ref

0.009

Thursday

1.07 (0.68–1.67)

   

1.27 (0.95–1.70)

 

Friday

0.68 (0.42–1.10)

   

1.14 (0.85–1.54)

 

Saturday

0.63 (0.42–0.95)

   

1.03 (0.80–1.33)

 

Call Time Period

      

24:00–06:00

1.35 (0.89–2.05)

   

1.71 (1.32–2.21)

 

06:00–12:00

1.30 (0.91–1.85)

0.018

  

1.39 (1.13–1.70)

< 0.001

12:00–18:00

Ref

   

ref

 

18:00–24:00

0.86 (0.62–1.21)

   

1.16 (0.95–1.42)

 

Call minute category

      

0–5 min

1.01 (0.67–1.53)

   

1.66 (1.30–2.11)

 

5–10 min

1.00 (0.74–1.33)

   

1.01 (0.85–1.20)

 

10–15 min

Ref

0.208

  

ref

< 0.001

15–20 min

0.96 (0.68–1.35)

   

0.97 (0.80–1.19)

 

Over 20 min

0.67 (0.47–0.96)

   

0.83 (0.67–1.04)

 

Calls by user category

      

Under 200

0.97 (0.45–2.10)

   

1.22 (0.74–2.00)

 

200–1000

1.20 (0.79–1.82)

   

0.92 (0.63–1.34)

 

1000–1800

Ref

0.060

  

ref

0.107

1800–2500

1.36 (0.84–2.19)

   

1.25 (0.79–1.98)

 

2500+

2.36 (1.33–4.19)

   

1.73 (1.04–2.88)

 

Clinician conducting triage

7.72

   

16.15