Symptom tracking made simple? Observational data on the clinical use of the PERSON score in cancer patients receiving palliative care.

CONTEXT

A standardized assessment of symptoms is essential for individualized palliative care (PC). While numerous tools exist, many are too complex for daily clinical use.

OBJECTIVE

The PERSON score was developed as a brief and practical tool to assess symptom burden in PC. This study aimed to evaluate its feasibility in a rural hospital setting, although it did not include formal feasibility metrics such as recruitment or adherence rates.

METHODS

Patients admitted to the palliative care unit of a rural hospital were assessed using the PERSON score, which includes seven items: pain, eating, rehabilitation, social situation, suffering, oxygen/dyspnea, and nausea/emesis. Each item is scored from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating greater burden. Assessments were conducted on admission, after 7 days, and at discharge. Symptom scores were analyzed for change over time.

RESULTS

Of 60 admitted patients, 40 met the inclusion criteria. Reassessment was possible in 35 patients after 7 days and in 31 patients at discharge. The mean PERSON score decreased from 28 (SD 12) on admission to 21 (SD 11) after 7 days (difference: 7, 95% confidence interval, CI: 3-11, p = 0.002), and to 17 (SD 10) at discharge (difference: 11, 95% CI: 6-15, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The PERSON score was feasible to implement and enabled consistent symptom monitoring. Its use may support structured clinical assessment and targeted symptom management even in smaller or rural palliative care units.