Open AccessEdmonton Symptom Assessment Scale Time Duration of Self‐Completion Versus Assisted Completion in Patients with Advanced Cancer: A Randomized Comparison
Author(s) -
Wong Angelique,
Tayjasanant Supakarn,
RodriguezNunez Alfredo,
Park Minjeong,
Liu Diane,
Zapata Kresnier Perez,
Allo Julio,
FrisbeeHume Susan,
Williams Janet,
Bruera Eduardo
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
the oncologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.176
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1549-490X
pISSN - 1083-7159
DOI - 10.1002/onco.13619
Subject(s) - medicine , interquartile range , randomized controlled trial , quality of life (healthcare) , physical therapy , stopwatch , health literacy , cancer , health care , nursing , physics , astronomy , economics , economic growth
To compare the time duration of self‐completion (SC) of the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) by patients with advanced cancer (ACPs) versus assisted completion (AC) with a health care professional. Materials and Methods In this randomized comparison of ACPs seen in initial consultation at the outpatient Supportive Care Center at MD Anderson, ACPs who have never completed the ESAS at MD Anderson were allocated (1:1) to either SC of the ESAS form versus AC by a nurse. Time of completion was measured by the nurse using a stopwatch. Patients completed the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine (REALM) test prior to administration of the ESAS. In the SC group, the nurse reviewed the responses to verify that the reported ESAS scores were correct. Results A total of 126 ACPs were enrolled (69 patients to AC and 57 to SC). Seventy‐one patients were female, median age was 60 years, and median REALM score was 65. Median (interquartile range) time (in seconds) of SC was significantly less than AC (73 [42.9–89.1] vs. 109 [79.5–136.7], p < .0001). With nurse review time included, median time of SC increased to 117 seconds, which was not significantly different from AC ( p = .28). Lower literacy (REALM) score and shortness of breath were significantly associated with increased completion time ( p = .007). Conclusion Regular use of ESAS will have minimal impact on clinical time, as it can be completed in about 1 minute and provides a concise yet comprehensive and multidimensional perspective of symptoms that affect quality of life of patients with cancer. Implications for Practice Because the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale can be completed in less than 2 minutes, hopefully the routine use of this simple yet comprehensive and multidimensional symptom assessment tool will be used at all medical visits in all patients with cancer so that the timely management of symptoms affecting patients' lives and treatment courses can occur, further enhancing personalized cancer care.