Ten second triage method is feasible to teach and learn: An observational study from Finland

Abstract

Background: Ten Second Triage (TST) is a rapid assessment tool for mass casualty incidents that excludes physiological parameters. The TST was implemented in Pirkanmaa, Finland, in 2024. The Emergency Medical Service (EMS) employees received pre-course material, attended a lecture, and completed one hour of simulation training. The study evaluated whether they could learn and implement the TST after training. Methods: Data were collected using a questionnaire featuring an imaginary traffic accident, with four case scenarios assessed using TST. The questionnaire evaluated TST learning and the need for additional training. Categorical data were analysed using the Fisher-Freeman-Halton exact test in Case 1 and Pearson Chi-Square test in Cases 2-4. Skewed variables were reported as median and interquartile range. Results: Of 450 (94% of all) EMS employees, 390 (82%) completed the questionnaire. For three of the four cases, correct triage rates were high (88–94%), but for one complex case, the correct rate was 28%. Additionally, 303 (79%) participants felt competent to use the TST post-training, while 61 (16%) indicated a need for further training. Conclusions: The results show EMS employees can learn the TST method for simple cases, while complex cases with multiple complaints were assessed moderately and require more training.