One of the more asinine things I’ve come across. Even more stunningly idiotic is this suggestion by the researchers:
Researchers asked doctors to estimate respiratory and pulse rates without looking at a second hand . . .
. . . The researchers asked 20 appropriately trained staff to evaluate different pulse and respiratory rates on a simulated patient without the use of a second hand.
Estimates for a pulse rate of 83 ranged from 60 to 120, and estimates for a respiratory rate of 14 ranged from 10 to 28.