Table 2

Comparison of findings from a sample of prior GTT studies with escalation e-trigger

Authors, yearMethod of record selectionTotal records reviewedTotal records identified as GTT-positiveReported GTT yield (% adverse events discovered per GTT trigger positive charts)Records identified as positive for escalation of care (manually in all except our study)Reported yield (% adverse events discovered per ‘escalation of care’ trigger positive charts)Distinction between preventable and non-preventable (if reported)
Iyengar et al, 200919All rapid response team consults in a 4-week period65N/AN/A2335% (23/65)69.6% preventable
Naessens et al, 20102010 random charts every 2 weeks for 2 years113891333.6% (307/913)5666% (37/56)No distinction
Kennerly et al, 2013910–35 random charts every month for 2 years16 17214 18219.5% (2772/14 182)Not reported3.9%12.5% preventable
O’Leary et al, 201310250 randomly selected records250Not reportedNot reported1813% (2/18)No distinction
Unbeck et al, 201322350 random orthopaedic patients350Not reported28% (98/350)580% (4/5)79% preventable
Hwang et al, 20141130 random charts per week for 6 months629Not reportedNot reported1811.1% (2/18)61% preventable
Amaral et al, 201521247 rapid response team consults over a 7-month period247N/AN/A24717.8% (44/247)79.5% preventable
Escalation e-triggerElectronic trigger applied to 88 428 hospitalisationsN/AN/AN/A92 high-risk records identified from 88744.6% (41/92)All preventable
  • GTT, Global Trigger Tool.