Table 4 Information used as part of recognising dying
From: Clinical decision making in the recognition of dying: a qualitative interview study
Symptoms and signs | Other information | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Cancer | Breathlessness (7) | Pain (2) | “Observations” (4) | Imaging (4) |
Difficulty with oral intake (6) | Incontinence (1) | Oxygen saturations (3) | Biochemistry tests (3) | |
Reduced conscious level (6) | Agitation (1) | Hypotension (3) | “Bloods” (2) | |
Bedbound (4) | Clamminess (1) | Respiratory rate (3) | Haemoglobin (1) | |
Skin colour (4) | Cachexia/loss of muscle bulk (1) | Urine output (2) | Albumin (1) | |
Respiratory tract secretions (3) | Weight loss (1) | High temperature (1) | White cell count (1) | |
Other respiratory changes (3) | Increased dependence (1) | Bradycardia (1) | CRP (1) | |
Increased sleep (3) | Anxiety (1) | EWS (1) | Blood cultures (1) | |
Confusion (3) | Jaundice (1) | Chest drain output (1) | ECG (1) | |
Fatigue/energy level (3) | Ascites (1) | Specific instance not to use observations (1) | ||
Nausea/vomiting (2) | SVCO symptoms (1) | |||
Reduced responsiveness (2) | Odour (1) | |||
Weakness (2) | Headache (1) | |||
Cool peripheries (2) | ||||
Heart failure | Breathlessness (5) | Housebound (1) | Body weight (3) | Biochemistry tests (4) |
Difficulty with oral intake (4) | Oedema (1) | Hypotension (3) | “Bloods” (2) | |
Increased dependence (3) | Confusion (1) | Urine output (3) | Echocardiography (2) | |
Weight gain (3) | Increased sleep (1) | “Observations” (2) | ABG (1) | |
Reduced conscious level (2) | Ascites (1) | Glasgow Coma Scale (1) | CT head (1) | |
Other respiratory symptoms (2) | Pain (1) | Tachycardia (1) | Serum sodium (1) | |
Cachexia/loss of muscle bulk (2) | Skin colour (1) | Fluid balance (1) | ||
Bedbound (2) | Fatigue (1) | |||
Unable to express wishes (1) | ||||