Citation

Lai KYC. Child Adolesc. Ment. Health 2006; 11(4): 204-207.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1475-3588.2006.00412.x

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The problems of long waiting time and non-attendance prompted the implementation of a triage procedure in a child and adolescent psychiatry clinic in Hong Kong.

METHOD: A two-stage triage procedure was set up, incorporating an initial screening by the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, followed by a semi-structured telephone triage interview scored according to pre-set criteria.

RESULTS from the triage interview were compared with clinicians'rating of urgency.

RESULT: The procedure was successful in identifying cases that were in need of urgent assessment, whose waiting time was shortened substantially. The non-attendance rate also improved.

CONCLUSION: The triage procedure helped to streamline the service in a grossly under-resourced clinic, but further refinement is still needed. © 2006 Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health.

Language: en

Keywords

adolescent; human; suicide; child; female; male; Hong Kong; Triage; child abuse; depression; screening; aggression; psychosis; interview; article; major clinical study; eating disorder; questionnaire; behavior disorder; child psychiatry; priority journal; telephone; emergency health service; Child psychiatry clinic; Non-attendance; oppositional defiant disorder