Journal of palliative medicine
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Serial Palliative Performance Scale (PPS) assessments may predict functional decline and prognosis in cancer and noncancer patients and help with end-of-life decision making. ⋯ Serial PPS assessments are feasible and predicted functional decline in cancer and noncancer patients in this sample. Cancer patients exhibited higher initial functional scores but both cancer and noncancer patients declined in functionality along hospitalization. Earlier deaths occurred in the terminal PPS category than in the transitional PPS category.
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Little is known about quality of life (QOL), depression, and end-of-life (EOL) outcomes among hospitalized patients with advanced cancer. ⋯ The surprise question identifies inpatients with advanced solid or hematologic cancers having poor QOL and frequent depressive symptoms. Although physicians expected death within a year, EOL quality outcomes were poor. Hospitalized patients with advanced cancer may benefit from palliative care interventions to improve mood, QOL, and EOL care, and the surprise question is a practical method to identify those with unmet needs.