Table 1

PEWS charts validation process

Key findings	Description
Age brackets	The most common split for ages is 0–1 year, 1–4 years, 5–12 years, 12+ years—with most variation in the 0–1 year age group.
Calculation of the score	There is wide variation in which and how many (abnormal) parameters contribute to the score.
Measured parameters	Remarkably similar although there is variation around whether the BP is recorded and forms part of the score (vs just being recorded) and how behavioural change and parental/nurse concern are captured/scored.
Meaning of a high/low score	Not all scores had the higher value representing greater concern.
Additional features	Sepsis tools; tools for escalation and tools for mandating a response were the most frequent.
Hospital-specific elements	For example, contact details for bleeps and ward extensions.