Table 4

Criteria used in PEWS from electronic survey

Criterion	DGH n=58		Tertiary n=19		Total n=77
Criterion	Number	Per cent	Number	Per cent	Number	Per cent
Respiratory rate	52	89.7	16	84.2	68	88.3
Heart rate	52	89.7	16	84.2	68	88.3
Oxygen saturation	45	77.6	14	73.7	59	76.6
Abnormal consciousness	41	70.7	13	68.4	54	70.3
Respiratory effort	39	67.2	9	47.4	48	62.3
Nurse concern	33	56.9	9	47.4	42	54.5
Systolic blood pressure	28	48.3	13	68.4	41	53.2
Oxygen therapy	34	58.6	7	36.8	41	53.2
Temperature	28	48.3	7	36.8	35	45.5
Shock	29	50.0	5	26.3	34	44.2
Doctor concern	23	39.7	8	42.1	31	40.3
Respiratory arrest	21	36.2	7	36.8	28	36.4
Stridor/wheeze	19	32.8	6	31.6	25	32.5
Apnoea	20	34.5	4	21.1	24	31.2
Prolonged seizure	16	27.6	4	21.1	20	26.0

Remaining criteria (criterion from original survey in bold)	Range of number of sites using criteria
Exhaustion	15–20
Burns >10%, mean blood pressure, artificial airway, nebulised medication, meningococcaemia, diabetic ketoacidosis, major trauma, need for ventilation	10–14
Central line (temporary), abnormal coagulation, inotrope infusion, capillary refill time, abnormal serum sodium, fluid bolus >10 mL/kg, arrhythmia, abnormal serum potassium, urine output, scidosis	5–9
Airways threat, cardiac pacing (temporary), neutropenia	2–4
Abdominal pus drainage, abdominal pain >12 years of age, bilious vomiting, bleeding or blood loss, anaphylaxis, burns >5%, persistent vomiting postsurgery, predisposing risk (premature or special needs), parental concern, post-ICU discharge	1