Evaluation of Emotional Distress in Oncology Palliative Patients: Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) and Palliative Outcome Scale (POS)—A Portuguese Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Patients with advanced cancer often have high levels of emotional suffering, so it is necessary to identify their palliative needs and address them effectively. Although distress is highly prevalent among patients receiving palliative care, research in this area indicates that it remains significantly underdiagnosed and undertreated. The aim of our cross-sectional and correlational study was to analyze the psychometric properties of the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) and the Palliative Outcome Scale (POS) among inpatient cancer patients receiving palliative care in a Portuguese palliative care unit. We confirmed that self-reported anxiety and depression (reported through the ESAS scale) are correlated to emotional questions (reported through the POS), namely, anxiety related to disease, the meaning of life, and sharing feelings. This study showed us that the ESAS and POS complement each other as practical and easy-to-use tools for evaluating emotional distress in the context of palliative care.