The Ability of Existing Questionnaires to Measure Symptom Change After Paracentesis for Symptomatic Ascites

Easson, Alexandra; Bezjak, Andrea; Ross, Susan; Wright, J. G.

doi:10.1245/s10434-007-9370-3

Cited by 45 publications

(65 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…More than 130 relevant articles and abstracts were identified, of which thirty-nine were primary studies published as complete peer-reviewed papers, representing 25 different institutions. Of the thirty-nine papers, thirteen were from Canada 6,11,[20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30] ; eight were from the United States [12][13][14]18,[31][32][33][34] ; eight were from Scandinavia (Sweden 15,[35][36][37] , Denmark [38][39] , Norway 40 , Finland 16 ); two were from Western Europe (Netherlands 41 , United Kingdom 42 ); five were from southern Europe (Switzerland 43 , Italy 17,[44][45][46] ); two were from Australia 47,48 ; and one was from Asia 49 .…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The remaining six papers included other populations (patients with AIDS 13 , renal disease 24 , benign disease 29 , and cardiorespiratory diseases 18,22,34 ). Sample sizes in the thirty-three oncologic studies ranged from 32 to 1296 subjects, for a total in excess of 5000 patients.…”

Section: Population Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The overall distribution was perhaps typical of a palliative population. In the non-hospital but palliative context, most subjects were at home 17,18,22,[25][26][27][28][29][30]32,34,36,40,47 or at a hospice 48 . Overall, the "extreme" condition of the subjects is reflected in the descriptions provided in the papers themselves: disease was "advanced," patients were "terminally ill," symptoms were "moderate" to "severe" (justifying hospitalization), performance status was intermediate-to-low [median Karnofsky performance status (KPS): , and reduced cognitive functioning was present in some patients.…”

Section: Population Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Review of the Reliability and Validity of the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System

2009

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BackgroundSystematic symptom reporting by patients and the use of questionnaires such as the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) have potential to improve clinical encounters and patient satisfaction. We review findings from published studies of the ESAS to guide use of the system and to focus research. MethodsA systematic search for articles from 1991 through 2007 found thirty-nine peer-reviewed papers from 25 different institutions, thirty-three of which focused on patients with cancer. Observations, data, and statistics were collated according to relevance, reliability, validity, and responsiveness. ResultsFindings apply predominantly to symptomatic palliative patients with advanced cancer who were no longer receiving active oncologic therapies. Uncertainty about summarizing findings arises from frequent modification of the ESAS (altered items, scales, and time periods). Overall, reliability is established for daily administration. Scores are skewed, with a floor effect, but the relative order of symptoms by mean scores is similar across studies. Emotional symptoms are poorly captured by the depression and anxiety items. An equally weighted summation of scores may estimate a construct of "physical symptom distress," which in turn is related to performance status, palliative goals, quality of life, and well-being. ConclusionsThe ESAS is reliable, but it has restricted validity, and its use requires a sound clinical process to help interpret scores and to give them an appropriate level of attention. Research priorities are to further develop the ESAS for assessing a greater number of important physical symptoms (and to target "physical symptom

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Population Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Population Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Review of the Reliability and Validity of the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System

2009

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“…Although paracentesis is an invasive procedure with a relatively short-term benefit, it does address the patient's discomfort with abdominal distention and, to a lesser extent, the related insomnia, dyspnea and nausea [21]. There are, however, other therapies employed for symptom management, as listed in TABLE 4.…”

Section: Ascitesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Supportive care for women with gynecologic cancers

Chase¹,

Monk²,

Wenzel³

et al. 2008

Expert Review of Anticancer Therapy

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“…This tool provides a standard and validated method to quantify the severity of patients' symptoms throughout the trajectory of their disease and its treatment [3]. Although originally developed for use in a palliative care setting, the ESAS is now used in cardiology [4], intensive care units, nephrology [5,6], hepatology [7], and long-term care [8]. Health care professionals familiar with this tool are able to use the ESAS to identify treatment priorities, evaluate the results of their treatment plan, and make appropriate adjustments.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Health care providers’ use and knowledge of the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS): is there a need to improve information and training?

Buttenschoen

Stephan²,

Watanabe

et al. 2013

Support Care Cancer

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Objectives The ESAS is a clinical symptom assessment tool developed for patients receiving palliative care for pain and symptom control. Recent studies have indicated that patients have difficulty understanding terminology and correct use of the ESAS, and that they appreciate the presence of a health care provider (HCP) to assist with ESAS completion. As appropriate assessment translates into effective treatment, it is important that HCPs have a good understanding of the tool. The purpose of this study was to assess HCPs' use, knowledge, and training needs of the ESAS. Methods One hundred ninety-three HCPs in palliative care and chronic pain, who used the ESAS, were invited to participate in a survey. Results The response rate was 43 % (n =83), with 62 % nurses, 26 % physicians, and 12 % other specialties. Most participants were palliative care specialists (79 %). The majority (77 %) had a good understanding of the ESAS terms. Knowledge problems included distinguishing tiredness and drowsiness (25 %), interpreting shortness of breath as a combination of subjective and objective symptoms (19 %), not indicating current symptom level (14 %), and reverse scoring of well-being (13 %) and appetite (9 %). Reported challenges were misinterpretation of some ESAS terms, assessing patients with impaired communication, and lack of time and reliability of caregiver assessments. Participants offered suggestions regarding how their knowledge and use of the ESAS could be improved. Conclusions Suggestions for improving ESAS administration and training were to include term definitions and examples of how to ask about terms that might be challenging for patients. Furthermore, initial and ongoing training sessions might help to clarify issues with the tool.

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The Ability of Existing Questionnaires to Measure Symptom Change After Paracentesis for Symptomatic Ascites

Abstract: Paracentesis provides symptom relief that can be measured by existing questionnaires. For future clinical trials of symptomatic ascites, the QLQ-C30 and the ESAS:AM together, or the QLQ-C30 with the addition of the QLQ-PAN26 ascites and abdominal pain subscales could be used.

Cited by 45 publications

References 29 publications

A Review of the Reliability and Validity of the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System

A Review of the Reliability and Validity of the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System

Supportive care for women with gynecologic cancers

Health care providers’ use and knowledge of the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS): is there a need to improve information and training?

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