Table 1 Common characteristics for diagnosing (nursing home-acquired) pneumonia, yielded by the literature review of Phase 1, and frequency of importance scores (1 = hardly important; 10 = most important), numbers of scores on the common characteristics, 50 % indications and frequency indications, all resulting from Phase 2

Tachypnea

1

4

2

5

7

10^b

4

11^b

6

15^b

65^a

^c

Dyspnea

5

1

5

1

5

5

6^b

9^b

15^b

13^b

65^a

^c

Crepitation with auscultation

2

3

5

3

3

10^b

8^b

12^b

2

7^b

55^a

^c

Fever (temperature > 38 °C)

5

3

2

3

10

7

14^b

9^b

10^b

6

69^a

^c

Coughing

2

6

2

6

7

7^b

11^b

8^b

9^b

6

64^a

^c

Deterioration of general functioning

7

2

6

7

9

3

5

9^b

5

5

58^a

^c

Leucocystosis

3

3

7

8

5

4

6^b

4

6^b

0

46^a

^c

(Central) cyanosis

6

6

6

8

3

2

1

0

1

1

34

Hypoxia

2

3

8

7

6

6^b

5

6^b

6^b

4

53^a

^c

Pain of breathing and coughing

3

6

8

3

6

4^b

2

1

1

2

36^a

Shivers

3

10

3

3

4

4

1

1

1

0

30

Decreased consciousness

10

5

3

8

3

3

2

4

1

1

40^a

Purulent sputum

2

7

7

6

5

7^b

6

5

3

3

51^a

Tachycardia

2

2

3

3

6

6

4

3

2

0

31

Pleura rub

2

5

0

2

2

0

2

3

2

1

19

Transpiration

3

4

5

3

3

0

0

0

0

0

18