A cross-sectional survey of Australian and New Zealand public opinion on methods to triage intensive care patients in an influenza pandemic

• Published in: Critical care and resuscitation 2017-09, Vol.19 (3), p.254-265
• Main Authors: Cheung, Winston, Myburgh, John, McGuinness, Shay, Chalmers, Debra, Parke, Rachael, Blyth, Fiona, Seppelt, Ian, Parr, Michael, Hooker, Claire, Blackwell, Nikki, DeMonte, Shannon, Gandhi, Kalpesh, Kol, Mark, Kerridge, Ian, Nair, Priya, Saunders, Nicholas M., Saxena, Manoj K., Thanakrishnan, Govindasamy, Naganathan, Vasi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Influenza; Intensive care units; Management; Prevention; Treatment
• ISSN: 1441-2772
• DOI: 10.1016/S1441-2772(23)00924-9

Background and objective: An influenza pandemic has the potential to overwhelm intensive care resources, but the views of the general public on how resources should be allocated in such a scenario were unknown. We aimed to determine Australian and New Zealand public opinion on how intensive care unit beds should be allocated during an influenza pandemic. Design, setting, and participants: A postal questionnaire was sent to 4000 randomly selected registered voters; 2000 people each from the Australian Electoral Commission and New Zealand Electoral Commission rolls. Main outcome measure: The respondents' preferred method to triage ICU patients in an influenza pandemic. Respondents chose from six methods: use a "first in, first served" approach; allow a senior doctor to decide; use pre-determined health department criteria; use random selection; use the patient's ability to pay; use the importance of the patient to decide. Respondents also rated each of the triage methods for fairness. Results: Australian respondents preferred that patients be triaged to the ICU either by a senior doctor (43.2%) or by pre-determined health department criteria (38.7%). New Zealand respondents preferred that triage be performed by a senior doctor (45.9%). Respondents from both countries perceived triage by a senior doctor and by pre-determined health department criteria to be fair, and the other four methods of triage to be unfair. Conclusion: In an influenza pandemic, when ICU resources would be overwhelmed, survey respondents preferred that ICU triage be performed by a senior doctor, but also perceived the use of pre-determined triage criteria to be fair.