Table 1.

Definitions of analytical themes

Analytical theme	Definitions and references
Information packaging	The use of quantifiable evidence of deterioration (such as vital signs) to initiate escalation of care.15 33 34 40 41
Flattened hierarchy	Escalation of care can be initiated from any staff member to any staff member.15 31 35 41–45
Situational awareness	The comprehension of clinical elements and projection of their status in the future.73
Team functioning	Fragmented team-working with sequential rather than concurrent task completion and poor relationships.35 36 41–45 47 48
Soft signals of deterioration	Non-numerical deterioration cues attained from observation rather than instrumentation.15 31 35–37 41 49 50 54 55
Decision making	Clinical reasoning surrounding detection, communication and management of escalation of care.
Clinical experience	As staff became familiar with deteriorating patients, they were better able to detect and predict impending illness.15 36 38 42 43 46 49 50 54 55
Clinical assessment	Involves staff looking, listening and feeling the patient to identify respiratory, skin, neurological or physiological abnormalities.15 49 51 55 57