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Observational Study
. 2017 Jan-Feb;46(1):14-17.
doi: 10.1016/j.hrtlng.2016.06.008. Epub 2016 Aug 2.

Mild, moderate, and severe intensity cut-points for the Respiratory Distress Observation Scale

Margaret L Campbell  1 , Katherine K Kero  2 , Thomas N Templin  2
Affiliations
Observational Study

Mild, moderate, and severe intensity cut-points for the Respiratory Distress Observation Scale

Margaret L Campbell et al. Heart Lung. 2017 Jan-Feb.

Abstract

Background: The Respiratory Distress Observation Scale© (RDOS) is a means for assessing respiratory distress when a patient is unable to give a dyspnea self-report. Cut-point determination was needed to guide clinical application.

Method: A Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was conducted in a prospective, observation study with inpatients ranked by nurse practitioners (NP) into levels of respiratory distress. A research assistant simultaneously measured RDOS blinded to NP ranking.

Results: Participants were 84 adults: mean age of 72.6 (SD = 15.2) years, 53.6% male, 77.4% African-American. NP ranking was distributed: none (30%), mild (26%), moderate (31%), and severe (13%) distress. RDOS scores ranged 0-13 (M = 4.8, SD = 3). NP ranking was significantly correlated with RDOS (rho = .91, p < .01). ROC curve analyses yielded cut-points: none = 0-2, any = 3, mild-moderate = 4-6, and severe ≥7 (p < .01).

Conclusions: Intensity cut-point enhances the clinical utility of the RDOS.

Keywords: Assessment; Cut-points; Dyspnea; ROC curve analyses; Respiratory distress.

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