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 |