Table 1

Participants’ description of how alarm limits were set for each variable. Variables are ordered by frequency of use (see figure 1)

VariablesArbitrary/what feels rightLocal guidelineNational guidelinePersonalised (based on data from that patient)Not applicableTotal
Oxygen saturation0%
0		13%
2		27%
4		53%
8		7%
1		15
Heart rate0%
1		17%
2		8%
1		67%
8		8%
1		13
Breathlessness8%
1		17%
2		17%
2		42%
5		17%
2		12
Cough symptoms8%
1		8%
1		17%
2		42%
5		25%
3		12
Phlegm symptoms9%
1		18%
2		27%
3		18%
2		27%
3		11
Temperature0%
0		27%
3		46%
5		18%
2		9%
1		11
Blood pressure0%
0		18%
2		18%
2		55%
6		9%
1		11
Wheeze13%
1		13%
1		25%
2		25%
2		25%
2		8
Physical activity14%
1		0%
0		0%
0		43%
3		43%
3		7
Use of medication0%
0		14%
1		29%
2		29%
2		29%
2		7
Hours of NIV use0%
0		20%
1		0%
0		20%
1		60%
3		5
Sleep quality0%
0		0%
0		0%
0		75%
3		25%
1		4
Step count25%
1		0%
0		0%
0		25%
1		50%
2		4
Peak flow0%
0		0%
0		0%
0		33%
1		67%
2		3

  • NIV, non-invasive ventilation.