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A self-evaluated assessment suitable for seriously ill hospice patients
G V Rathbone1, S Horsley, J Goacher
1Sue Ryder Hospice, Staunton Harold Hall, Leicestershire, UK.
Palliative Medicine
|January 1, 1994
Summary
The patient evaluated problem score (PEPS) effectively assesses quality of life in terminally ill patients. This tool identifies crucial psychosocial issues, even in patients near death, improving care management.
Area of Science:
- Palliative Care
- Quality of Life Assessment
- Patient-Reported Outcomes
Background:
- Current quality of life (QOL) assessments are often unsuitable for terminally ill patients.
- Existing tools can be burdensome and cause distress in end-of-life care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To pilot a new, simple assessment tool for QOL in terminally ill patients.
- To evaluate the utility of the patient evaluated problem score (PEPS) in identifying patient-perceived problems.
Main Methods:
- A pilot study using the PEPS tool was conducted with terminally ill patients.
- Patients identified and graded their problems, alongside staff-identified issues.
- Global QOL and WHO scores were also collected.
Main Results:
- PEPS demonstrated high patient acceptability, even for those close to death.
- A mean of 5.6 problems per patient were identified, with 14% being psychosocial.
- 58% of patients identified problems missed by staff, predominantly psychosocial.
Conclusions:
- PEPS is a valuable tool for managing terminally ill patients.
- It effectively identifies unrecognized or underrated problems, especially psychosocial ones.
- PEPS aids in evaluating patient progress and is well-accepted in end-of-life care.