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The following is a summary of “Implementation of Dynamic Appraisal of Situational Aggression Score at Emergency Department Triage,” published in the April 2025 issue of Annals of Emergency Medicine by Costigan et al. 

Researchers conducted a retrospective study to describe the demographic distribution of Dynamic Appraisal of Situational Aggression (DASA) scores at emergency department (ED) triage, recognizing patterns in score variability across groups and alliances with demographic factors. 

They assessed individuals aged 18 years and older who were assigned a DASA score during triage at 5 EDs from January 11, 2023, to December 31, 2023, as part of a systemwide strategy to address rising workplace violence. The scores stratified individuals into predefined risk categories of aggressive behavior (low, moderate, high, or imminent). Demographic details and DASA scores were extracted from electronic health records. Findings were explained descriptively, with counts and proportions reported alongside 95% CIs.  

The results showed that among 1,92,947 ED encounters during the study period, 1,59,154 (80.3%) had a DASA score assigned at triage (mean age: 51.5 years; 53.5% women). The dataset included 98,751 unique individuals. Higher-risk DASA scores were most frequently associated with male sex, younger age, elevated Emergency Severity Index, and arrival via police, ambulance, or aircraft.  

Investigators concluded that the DASA instrument score was highly adopted by staff at ED triage, and the demographic makeup of high-risk patients was consistent with prior research. 

Source: annemergmed.com/article/S0196-0644(25)00118-0/abstract