Aim: The purpose of this realist review was to assess what works, for whom and in what context, regarding strategies that influence nurses' behaviour to improve triage quality in emergency departments (ED).
Design: Realist review protocol.
Methods: This protocol follows the PRISMA-P statement and will include any type of study on strategies to improve the triage process in the ED (using recognized and validated triage scales). The included studies were examined for scientific quality using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. The framework for this realist review is based on the Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW) and the context-mechanism-outcome (CMO) models.
Discussion: Nurses and ED decision makers will be informed on the evidence regarding strategies to improve the quality of triage and the factors required to maximize their effectiveness. Research gaps may also be identified to guide future research projects on the adoption of best practices in ED nursing triage.
Keywords: behaviour change wheel (BCW); emergency departments (ED); nurse; quality improvement; realist review; triage.
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