New integrated version of Palliative care Outcome Scale launched

What is POS?

The POS measures are a family of tools to measure patients’ physical symptoms, psychological, emotional and spiritual, and information and support needs.

They are valid and reliable measures that can be used in clinical care, audit, research and training. They are specifically developed for use among people severely affected by diseases such as cancer, respiratory, heart, renal or liver failure, and neurological diseases, and are widely used globally including in Europe, Australia, Asia, Africa and America.

POS captures the difference which palliative care services can make improving the problems and concerns which patients prioritise.

What are the different POS measures?

As well as the core POS measure, we have whole family of other POS measures. POS-S is an additional module for symptoms. Extended versions are available for patients living with different conditions such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and end-stage renal disease. An African version (APCA African POS) has been tested and implemented in African countries.

Where is POS used?

POS is widely used in the UK. Globally, over 27 countries around the world report effective and successful use of one of the POS family of measures to support and improve care.

What is IPOS?

IPOS is our exciting new measure which incorporates the best of POS, POS-S and APCA African POS.

It has been welcomed by patients and professionals as a more streamlined measure which is brief, yet which still captures their most important concerns – both in relation to symptoms, but also extending to information needs, practical concerns, anxiety or low mood, family anxieties, and overall feeling of being at peace.

Both patient and proxy versions are available, making it possible to use even when someone is very unwell, and it can be used across settings; home, nursing home, hospital, hospice.