Comparison of the heart and breathing rate of acutely ill medical patients recorded by nursing staff with those measured over 5 min by a piezoelectric belt and ECG …

J Kellett, M Li, S Rasool, GC Green, A Seely - Resuscitation, 2011 - Elsevier
BACKGROUND: Heart and breathing rates are predictors of disease severity and of a poor
outcome. However, few reports have compared their machine measurements with traditional
manual methods. SETTING: A small rural Irish hospital. METHODS: The heart and breathing
rates of 377 acutely ill medical patients (mean age 68.3 SD 16.8 years) recorded by nursing
staff at the time of admission to hospital was compared with those measured over 5min by a
piezoelectric belt and ECG monitor (the BT16 acquisition system). RESULTS: The mean …