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)
e-PaP Score
Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS-r)
Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS-r): 9-item scale (0–10 for each symptom).
pain
0/10
tiredness
0/10
nausea
0/10
depression
0/10
anxiety
0/10
drowsiness
0/10
appetite
0/10
wellbeing
0/10
dyspnea
0/10
Calculate Burden
Guidelines & Evidence
Clinical Details
Section 1
When to Use
When to Use
Rapid assessment of common palliative symptoms in cancer and non-cancer populations
Serial monitoring of symptom burden over time
Identification of priority symptoms for intervention
Communication of symptom distress to care team
Section 2
Formula & Logic
Scale Structure
9-item visual analogue scale (0–10) assessing pain, tiredness, nausea, depression, anxiety, drowsiness, appetite, well-being, and shortness of breath.
Scoring
0
No symptom
5
Moderate symptom burden
10
Worst possible
Section 3
Pearls/Pitfalls
Key Advantages
Quick 5-minute completion; feasible in busy clinic settings
Validated across cancer and non-cancer populations
Responsive to interventions; detects change over time
Widely adopted in specialty palliative care
Known Limitations
Does not capture social, spiritual, or existential concerns
May be difficult for cognitively impaired patients
Last Comprehensive Review: 2026
Related Palliative Care Tools
Palliative Performance Scale
Palliative Prognostic Index
Palliative Prognostic
e-PaP Score
Menten Score
IPOS
Distress Thermometer
Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale
Morphine Equivalent Daily Dose
Opioid Risk Tool
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