Using a Single-item Rating Scale as a Psychiatric Behavioral Management Triage Tool in the Emergency Department
Received 21 August 2009; received in revised form 7 December 2009; accepted 24 January 2010. published online 11 March 2010. Corrected Proof
Introduction
Proper monitoring of patients' behavior is essential for effective treatment and efficient disposition of psychiatric cases in the adult emergency department. The goal of the current study was to examine an attempt to implement the Behavioral Activity Rating Scale, an existing single-item measure of behavioral activity, as part of a behavioral management triage strategy for psychiatric patients in an emergency department.
Methods
For the period beginning approximately 2 months after use of the behavioral activity measure was initiated in the emergency department, charts from 284 consecutive patients who presented to the department with a chief complaint that was psychiatric in nature were reviewed.
Results
Level of adoption of the measure by emergency nurses was lower than desired; only 46% of charts reviewed contained a behavioral activity rating. Ratings were less likely to be recorded during the night shift than during other shifts. As predicted, ratings indicative of elevated behavioral activity were associated with physician orders for formal behavioral management (ie, intramuscular, intravenous, or orally dissolving sedating medications or physical restraint).
Discussion
The findings of this study suggest that a single-item behavioral activity measure may be an efficient, effective, and discreet way for emergency nursing staff to communicate with one another and with physicians about psychiatric patients in need of behavioral management in adult emergency departments. The findings also suggest that a broad implementation approach is needed to achieve desired levels of adoption by emergency nursing staff.
For correspondence, write: Julie A. Schumacher, PhD, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 N State St, Jackson, MS 39216
ABSTRACT