Textbox 1.

Inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Inclusion criteria • Empirical research (any design) • Focus on dying in motor neurone disease; physiological, clinical and biochemical changes, patterns of deterioration, events which may predict dying and its recognition by healthcare professionals • Relates to the last 2 weeks of life, or ‘dying’, ‘actively dying’, ‘dying phase’, ‘terminal phase’, or ‘end of life’ • Relates to motor neurone disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, progressive bulbar palsy, progressive muscular atrophy, primary lateral sclerosis) • Focus on adults ⩾18 years old

Exclusion criteria • In language other than English • Focus on recognition of dying by family members and caregivers • Relates to spinal muscular atrophy • Editorials, commentary or opinion pieces, conference abstracts, case series, case reports, books.