Maternal fetal triage index vs. emergency severity index: increasing clinical safety by identifying and prioritising acutely unwell pregnant women

Method
A blind study comparing two triage tools.

Sampling
100 women were recruited via convenience and quota sampling.

Results
Statistical analysis was carried out using both the Freidman test and paired t-test. Initial results when comparing all 5 levels from both triage tools, showed ESI which is based on resources, triaged most patients at priority level 3, while MFTI triaged most patients at
priority level 4. MFTI places patients in normal
uncomplicated labour at priority level 4, while in ESI it is a 3 due to resources required for delivery. As the fetus is not taken into consideration in ESI, decreased fetal
movement and fetal heart rate decelerations were not assessed and therefore potentially dangerous situations for the fetus were missed.

Conclusion
Based on statistical analysis it has been inferred that the ESI is over triaging normal labour and normal complaints of pregnancy but is under triaging more
complicated cases in pregnancy. Therefore, in an obstetrics setting, MFTI would be a more appropriate triage tool at identifying and prioritising acutely unwell pregnant women.