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Introducing the Palliative Performance Scale to clinicians: the Grampian experience

  • Gordon Linklater
    ,
  • Sally Lawton
    ,
  • Shona Fielding
    ,
  • Lisa Macauley
    ,
  • David Carroll
    ,
  • Dong Pang
  • NHS Grampian
    ,
  • University of Aberdeen
Research Output: Contribution to journal Article Peer-review

Sustainable Development Goals

  • SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
    SDG 3 Good Health and Well

Abstract

Objectives The Palliative Performance Scale (PPS) was introduced across NHS Grampian. Our aim was to determine how practical and useful the PPS was for clinicians looking after palliative patients in a variety of settings. Methods A prospective audit approach was used in primary, secondary and nursing home care settings who. Demographic and assessment data were gathered for 3 months; feedback was gathered at the end of the data collection phase. Patient follow-up status was determined at 12 months. Results Fifteen clinical sites participated and feedback was obtained from all clinical areas (n=30). Most respondents found the PPS easy to use and that it helped recognise disease progression in cancer patients, but not in patients with dementia/frailty. Assessment data were gathered on 666 patients. Sixty per cent had a malignant diagnosis and 62.5% of the sample died within 12 months. Lower PPS scores at initial assessment indicated poorer prognosis. Median survival figures differed from previously published data. Falling PPS scores increased the risk of death compared with patients whose PPS scores remained static or improved. Conclusion Clinicians found the PPS to be a quick, useful way of assessing and reviewing functional changes in palliative patients. However, it may not identify the subtle changes in individuals with advanced dementia. The survival figures confirm that caution is needed in generalising survival data across different settings and populations. Further work is needed to examine changing functional status in patients with non-malignant diseases or dementia/frailty.

Publication Information

Output type

Research Output: Contribution to journal Article Peer-review

Original language

English

Pages from-to (Number of pages)

Pages 121-126

Journal (Volume, Issue Number)

BMJ Supportive and Palliative Care (Volume 2, Issue 2)

Publication milestones

  • Published - 01/03/2012

Publication status

Published - 01/03/2012

ISSN

2045-435X

External Publication IDs

  • handle.net: 10547/227172
  • Scopus: 84905437748

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