Annals of emergency medicine
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
A randomized, controlled trial of radiograph ordering for extremity trauma in a pediatric emergency department.
The objectives of this study were to determine whether triage nurses using the Brand protocol would order fewer radiographs than would physicians carrying out standard practice procedures, without missing an increased number of joint or bone injuries; the test characteristics and the interobserver reliability of the Brand protocol; and whether having triage nurses order radiographs could reduce total patient waiting time in the emergency department. ⋯ Having triage nurses use the Brand protocol reduced the number of radiographs ordered but at the same time increased the number of missed radiographic findings. However, having triage nurses order radiographs also significantly shortened waiting time in the ED.