5 research outputs found
Employees' views on home-based, after-hours telephone triage by Dutch GP cooperatives
__Abstract__
__Background:__
Dutch out-of-hours (OOH) centers find it difficult to attract sufficient triage staff. They regard home-based
triage as an option that might attract employees. Specially trained nurses are supposed to conduct triage by telephone
from home for after-hours medical care. The central aim of this research is to investigate the views of employees of OOH
centers in The Netherlands on home-based telephone triage in after-hours care.
Methods: The study is a Q methodology study. Triage nurses, general practitioners (GPs) and managers of OOH centers
ranked 36 opinion statements on home-based triage. We interviewed 10 participants to help develop and validate the
statements for the Q sort, and 77 participants did the Q sort.
__Results__:
We identified four views on home-based telephone triage. Two generally favor home-based triage, one
highlights some concerns and conditions, and one opposes it out of concern for quality. The four views perceive different
sources of credibility for nurse triagists working from home.
__Conclusion__:
Home-based telephone triage is a controversial issue among triage nurses, GPs and managers of OOH
centers. By identifying consensus and dissension among GPs, triagists, managers and regulators, this study generates four
perspectives on home-based triage. In addition, it reveals the conditions considered important for home-based triage