Review of the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System
Author Information
Author(s): Richardson L.A., Jones G.W.
Primary Institution: Credit Valley Hospital, Mississauga, ON
Hypothesis
The review aims to assess the reliability and validity of the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) to improve clinical encounters and patient satisfaction.
Conclusion
The ESAS is reliable but has limited validity, necessitating a sound clinical process for score interpretation.
Supporting Evidence
- The ESAS is frequently used in palliative care settings to assess symptoms.
- Reliability is established for daily administration of the ESAS.
- Emotional symptoms are poorly captured by the ESAS.
Takeaway
The ESAS helps patients report their symptoms, but it needs to be used carefully to really understand what those scores mean.
Methodology
A systematic search for articles from 1991 through 2007 identified thirty-nine peer-reviewed papers focusing on the ESAS.
Potential Biases
There is a risk of bias due to discrepancies between patient-reported symptoms and clinical assessments.
Limitations
The ESAS has restricted validity and is often modified, which complicates the interpretation of findings.
Participant Demographics
Most studies involved symptomatic palliative patients with advanced cancer, predominantly white, with a median age ranging from 53 to 74 years.
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