Abstract: Objective: To evaluate the effects and feasibility of the application of the Pre-Intra-Hospital Transportation (IHT) Checklist for Critically Ill Patients in Emergency Department (Checklist). Methods: The checklist was developed through evidence summary and Delphi expert argumentation. The incidence of accidents related to IHT and condition change in the two groups were compared and 20 nurses on different levels were selected to record the time spent to fill out the checklist when using the checklist for the first and third month respectively. Results: After applying the checklist, the overall incidence of accidents in the test group was lower than that of the control group (4.0% vs 28.6%, χ2=77.183, P<0.001), and the incidence of accidents relating to instruments, organization coordination, pipelines, liquids and deterioration of condition all decreased as well; the average time for nurses on different levels to fill the checklist in the first month was (2.85±1.05) min, and in the third month was (1.12±0.42) min, showing no statistical difference in the filling time of nurses (P>0.05). Conclusion: The checklist can reduce the incidence of accidents during the IHT of critically ill patients, and the filling time are within the acceptable range, therefore, it can be used by emergency nurses with different working years to carry out pre-IHT check-up of critically ill patients.

Key words: emergency; critically ill patients; Pre-Intra-Hospital Transport; checklist