Association Between Knowledge and Patients’ Family Attitudes Toward Triage in the Emergency Department of Syekh Yusuf Gowa Regional General Hospital

Abstract

Introduction:  The Emergency Department (ED) is a critical unit that plays an essential role in managing patients with emergency conditions through a triage system. However, limited knowledge among patients’ families regarding triage often leads to misunderstandings that influence their attitudes toward services provided in the ED. Objectives:  This study aimed to determine the relationship between the level of knowledge and the attitudes of patients’ families toward triage in the Emergency Department of Syekh Yusuf Regional General Hospital, Gowa Regency. Methods:  This study employed a quantitative design with a cross-sectional approach. The sample consisted of 72 patients’ family members selected using an accidental sampling technique. The research instruments were questionnaires measuring knowledge and attitudes. Data were analyzed using univariate and bivariate analyses, with the Gamma test applied at a significance level of 0.05. Results:  The results showed that the majority of respondents had a low level of knowledge (48.6%) and a neutral attitude (72.2%). The Gamma test yielded a coefficient value of 0.696 with a p-value of 0.001 (<0.05), indicating a statistically significant relationship between knowledge and the attitudes of patients’ families toward triage. The relationship was positive and moderately strong, suggesting that higher levels of knowledge were associated with more positive attitudes toward the implementation of triage. Conclusions:  In conclusion, there is a significant relationship between knowledge and the attitudes of patients’ families toward triage in the Emergency Department of Syekh Yusuf Regional General Hospital, Gowa Regency. These findings are expected to serve as a basis for improving educational interventions for patients’ families regarding the triage system.