User:Irene Higginson/Palliative Outcome Scale (POS)

The Palliative Outcome Scale (POS) was first created in 1997, following a programme of work. The aim of POS is to validly and reliably capture the problems and concerns of people affected by advanced and progressive illness. POS can be used to screen for problems and measure the outcomes of care. It is short - with 10 questions - and quick to use, taking on average 5 - 10 minutes to complete. It caputres the multidimentional problems of patients and families. There are versions for completion by patients, by families and by observer or clinicians. It is used widely in clinical practice and since its original development has been improved and adapted. POS is free to use. There are translations in many languages, often which have also been re-validated.

The Palliative Outcome Scale Symptoms (POS-S), is new accomanying measure in the POS family which captures common symptoms. This has a core version and addaptations for specific diseases, such as renal illnesses and neurological illnessess.

For use in African the APCA African POS was developed and validated as an adaptation of POS.