Opi
Calc
BODE Index (Palliative context)
CAM-S (Confusion Assessment Method - Severity)
CPOT (Critical-Care Pain Observation Tool)
Death Rattle Scoring (Victoria)
Distress Thermometer
Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS-r)
FAST Scale (Dementia)
IPOS (Integrated Palliative Outcome Scale)
Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale (MSAS)
Menten Score
Morphine Equivalent Daily Dose (MEDD)
Nursing Delirium Screening Scale (Nu-DESC)
Opioid Risk Tool (ORT)
PAINAD Scale
Palliative Performance Scale (PPSv2)
Palliative Prognostic (PaP) Score
Palliative Prognostic Index (PPI)
Respiratory Distress Observation Scale (RDOS)
Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS-PAL)
Seattle Heart Failure Model (SHFM)
e-PaP Score
Respiratory Distress Observation Scale (RDOS)
RDOS: Respiratory Distress Observation Scale (8-item behavioral dyspnea assessment).
Heart Rate > 120 bpm (0-2)
0 - Absent
1 - Present
2 - Severe
Respiratory Rate > 30/min (0-2)
0 - Absent
1 - Present
2 - Severe
Restlessness (0-2)
0 - Absent
1 - Present
2 - Severe
Paradoxical Breathing (0-2)
0 - Absent
1 - Present
2 - Severe
Accessory Muscle Use (0-2)
0 - Absent
1 - Present
2 - Severe
Grunting Sounds (0-1)
0 - Absent
1 - Present
Nasal Flaring (0-1)
0 - Absent
1 - Present
Open Mouth Breathing (0-1)
0 - Absent
1 - Present
Calculate RDOS Score
Guidelines & Evidence
Clinical Details
Section 1
When to Use
When to Use
Assessment of dyspnea in dying and non-communicative patients
Identification of respiratory distress in patients unable to self-report
Monitoring response to dyspnea management interventions
Guiding opioid and anxiolytic titration for comfort
Section 2
Formula & Logic
Scale Components
Breathing pattern abnormalities
Accessory muscle use
Nasal flaring
Grunting vocalization
Paradoxical breathing
Mouth opening
Head movement
Facial expression
Section 3
Pearls/Pitfalls
Key Advantages
Designed specifically for non-verbal dyspnea assessment
Observational items readily identifiable by caregivers
Responsive to interventions
Last Comprehensive Review: 2026
Related Palliative Care Tools
e-PaP Score
Menten Score
Edmonton Symptom Assessment System
IPOS
Distress Thermometer
Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale
Morphine Equivalent Daily Dose
Opioid Risk Tool
PAINAD Scale
CPOT
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