Palliative Care Assessment Calculator
Score the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS-r) with 9 symptom domains. Calculates total symptom distress, physical/psychological subscores, and palliative care referral criteria.
Medical Disclaimer
This calculator is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about your health. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of results from this tool.
Inputs
Results
Total symptom distress score
24
Severe symptoms (score ≥7)
0
How to Use This Calculator
- Score the patient's pain level, symptom burden, functional status, and psychological distress.
- Enter prognosis estimate and goals-of-care discussion status.
- Read the palliative care needs assessment score and recommended level of support.
- Review specific symptom domains requiring targeted intervention.
- Use results to trigger early palliative care consultation and goals-of-care conversations.
What each input means
- Pain (0–10)
- 0 = no pain, 10 = worst possible pain.
- Tiredness (0–10)
- 0 = no tiredness, 10 = worst possible tiredness.
- Drowsiness (0–10)
- 0 = no drowsiness, 10 = worst possible drowsiness.
- Nausea (0–10)
- 0 = no nausea, 10 = worst possible nausea.
- Lack of appetite (0–10)
- 0 = best appetite, 10 = worst possible appetite.
- Shortness of breath (0–10)
- 0 = no shortness of breath, 10 = worst possible.
- Depression (0–10)
- 0 = not depressed, 10 = worst possible depression.
- Anxiety (0–10)
- 0 = not anxious, 10 = worst possible anxiety.
- Poor wellbeing (0–10)
- 0 = best feeling of wellbeing, 10 = worst possible.
What each result means
- Total symptom distress score
- Sum of all 9 symptoms (0–90). Mild <28, Moderate 28–54, Severe ≥55.
- Physical subscore (0–60)
- Sum of pain, tiredness, drowsiness, nausea, appetite, dyspnea.
- Psychological subscore (0–30)
- Sum of depression, anxiety, wellbeing.
- Average symptom intensity
- Mean score across all 9 symptom domains.
- Severe symptoms (score ≥7)
- Number of individual symptoms rated 7 or higher, requiring urgent attention.
- Burden category (1=mild, 2=mod, 3=severe)
- Overall symptom burden classification.
- Palliative referral indicated (0/1)
- 1 if total SDS ≥28, any symptom ≥7, or ≥3 symptoms ≥4.
How this is calculated
Worked example, using the default values
- Identify Input Parameters4 parametersPain (0–10) = 3, Tiredness (0–10) = 4, Drowsiness (0–10) = 2, Nausea (0–10) = 1 = 9 input(s) provided
- Calculate Total symptom distress scoreTotal symptom distress score24 = 24
- Calculate Severe symptomsSevere symptoms0 = 0
- Calculate Physical subscorePhysical subscore15 = 15
- Calculate Psychological subscorePsychological subscore9 = 9
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