Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 6, 2026
Measuring Psoriasis Severity at Home
Published on: March 1, 2024
The Edmonton Symptom Assessment System: a 15-year retrospective review of validation studies (1991--2006)
Cheryl Nekolaichuk1, Sharon Watanabe, Crystal Beaumont
1Division of Palliative Care Medicine, Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. cheryl.nekolaichuk@ualberta.ca
Introduction:
The purpose of this review was to identify and critique validation studies focusing on the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS), a commonly used symptom assessment tool for advanced cancer and palliative patients.
Methods:
Using a comprehensive literature search, the authors identified and screened 87 publications. Thirteen articles were selected for in-depth review, based on the following inclusion criteria: psychometric studies with a primary focus on the ESAS, 1991--2006 publication dates and peer-reviewed English language publications.
Results:
Most studies involved cancer patients (n = 11). The ESAS format varied across studies, in terms of scale format, item number, item selection and language. Studies focused on gathering reliability estimates (n = 8), content validity evidence (n = 1), concurrent validity evidence (n = 5), predictive validity evidence (n = 1), and sensitivity and/or specificity (n = 3). None of these studies involved patients' perspectives as a source of validity evidence.
Discussion:
The use of varying instrument formats and limited psychometric evidence support the need for further ESAS validation studies, including the involvement of patients.
