Use of a modified ESAS in cancer patients: a pilot study of patient and staff experiences

Aim: To evaluate the feasibility of a modified Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) for monitoring symptoms in oncological palliative care. Methods: A modified ESAS was delivered daily to 28 patients with advanced cancer. A questionnaire to discover staff members' opinions on the ESAS was delivered at the end of the study. Structured interviews were used to examine patients' opinions on the ESAS. Results: The mean total ESAS score was 28.9 on inclusion day and 25.8 on Day 3 (p=0.531). Eleven of 21 of the staff considered the ESAS to be a 'good' or 'very good' way to obtain information about patients' symptoms. Seventeen of 24 patients who participated in the interview felt that ESAS was easy to fill in, and that there were no missing questions. Conclusion: The patients felt that the modified ESAS contained relevant symptoms, and that the questionnaires were easy to fill in. The staff considered the modified ESAS to be a useful instrument for obtaining information about patients' symptom distress. The modified ESAS is a good instrument for use as part of the daily clinical routine, as well as for monitoring symptoms in palliative oncological care.