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Palliative performance scale (PPS): a new tool
F Anderson1, G M Downing, J Hill
1Capital Region District Home Nursing Care, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
Journal of Palliative Care
|January 1, 1996
Summary
The Palliative Performance Scale (PPS) effectively measures physical status in palliative care. This tool aids in patient assessment, workload analysis, and potentially prognostication for terminally ill patients.
Area of Science:
- Palliative Care Medicine
- Geriatrics
- Clinical Assessment Tools
Background:
- The Karnofsky Performance Scale is a widely used measure of functional status.
- There is a need for refined tools to assess physical status in palliative care settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce and evaluate the Palliative Performance Scale (PPS) as a novel tool for measuring physical status in palliative care.
- To explore initial applications of the PPS in clinical practice.
Main Methods:
- The Palliative Performance Scale (PPS) was applied to assess physical status.
- Data were collected from patients receiving home nursing care and hospice unit admissions.
- Patient outcomes, including time to mortality, were analyzed in relation to PPS scores.
Main Results:
- A majority of home care patients (73%) and hospice patients (83%) had PPS ratings indicating significant functional impairment (40%-70% and 20%-50%, respectively).
- A clear correlation was observed between lower PPS scores at admission and shorter survival times for hospice patients.
- Patients with higher PPS scores (≥60%) rarely died within the hospice unit.
Conclusions:
- The Palliative Performance Scale (PPS) demonstrates utility in assessing physical status across different palliative care settings.
- The PPS shows potential for use in clinical communication, workload management, and prognostication.
- Further research is needed to establish the full validity and reliability of the PPS.