Skip to main content
. 2020 Sep 25;15:2275–2287. doi: 10.2147/COPD.S263696

Table 3.

Case Scenarios

Case Scenario and SpO2 Options All Clinicians n (%) Paramedic n (%) Nurse n (%) Doctor n (%) Physiotherapist n (%) P value
Mr Riley, a 56-year-old male admitted to hospital with an acute exacerbation of COPD
SpO2 88–92% 80/115 (69.6) 8/9 (88.9) 40/59 (67.8) 25/37 (67.6) 7/10 (70.0) 0.39
SpO2 90–94% 21/115 (18.3) 0/9 (0.0) 11/59 (18.6) 9/37 (24.3) 1/10 (10.0)
SpO2 > 92% 7/115 (6.1) 1/9 (11.1) 2/59 (3.4) 3/37 (8.1) 1/10 (10.0)
SpO2 > 94% 3/115 (2.6) 0/9 (0.0) 2/59 (3.4) 0/37 (0.0) 1/10 (10.0)
SpO2 > 95% 4/115 (3.5) 0/9 (0.0) 4/59 (6.8) 0/37 (0.0) 0/10 (0.0)
Samantha Hood, a 22-year-old lady admitted with acute asthma
SpO2 88–92% 2/115 (1.7) 0/9 (0.0) 2/58 (3.5) 0/38 (0.0) 0/10 (0.0) 0.093
SpO2 90–94% 14/115 (12.2) 0/9 (0.0) 5/58 (8.6) 9/38 (23.7) 0/10 (0.0)
SpO2 > 92% 22/115 (19.1) 1/9 (11.1) 12/58 (20.7) 8/38 (21.1) 1/10 (10.0)
SpO2 > 94% 30/115 (26.1) 6/9 (66.7) 12/58 (20.7) 10/38 (26.3) 2/10 (20.0)
SpO2 > 95% 47/115 (40.9) 2/9 (22.2) 27/58 (46.6) 11/38 (29.0) 7/10 (70.0)
Lois Lane, 82-year-old lady who is day 1 post right hip replacement with no other co-morbidities
SpO2 88–92% 2/114 (1.8) 1/9 (11.1) 0/57 (0.0) 1/38 (2.6) 0/10 (0.0) <0.001
SpO2 90–94% 19/114 (16.7) 1/9 (11.1) 6/57 (10.5) 11/38 (29.0) 1/10 (10.0)
SpO2 > 92% 32/114 (28.1) 0/9 (0.0) 12/57 (21.1) 19/38 (50.0) 1/10 (10.0)
SpO2 > 94% 29/114 (25.4) 4/9 (44.4) 14/57 (24.6) 6/38 (15.8) 5/10 (50.0)
SpO2 > 95% 32/114 (28.1) 3/9 (33.3) 25/57 (43.9) 1/38 (2.6) 3/10 (30.0)
Tom Baker, 81-year-old obese man (BMI 32) who currently smokes. He is day 4 post cholecystectomy
SpO2 88–92% 29/115 (25.2) 1/9 (11.1) 12/58 (20.7) 12/38 (31.6) 4/10 (40.0) 0.027
SpO2 90–94% 32/115 (27.8) 4/9 (44.4) 12/58 (20.7) 14/38 (36.8) 2/10 (20.0)
SpO2 > 92% 24/115 (20.9) 2/9 (22.2) 13/58 (22.4) 7/38 (18.4) 2/10 (20.0)
SpO2 > 94% 16/115 (13.9) 2/9 (22.2) 7/58 (12.1) 5/38 (13.16) 2/10 (20.0)
SpO2 > 95% 14/115 (12.2) 0/9 (0.0) 14/58 (24.1) 0/38 (0.0) 0/10 (0.0)

Notes: where answers were listed that did not appear as part of the options, these have been treated as missing variables; n = number of respondents who chose scenario over total responses; p value denotes significant/non-significant difference between various clinical groups. Pseudonyms have been used in the hypothetical scenarios.