Cambridge Palliative Assessment Schedule (CAMPAS-R)
What is known
CAMPAS-R is a validated tool which was developed in the UK [1-2]. It began as an audit tool for assessing the quality of palliative care service delivery by primary care providers. CAMPAS-R uses a simple set of visual analogue scales for patients to rate their symptoms and problems in terms of intensity, and the impact on their life. The ten questions in CAMPAS-R cover physical symptoms, and also depression and anxiety in both the patient and the carer (as perceived by the patient).
One study looked at how symptom ratings by different health professionals compared with those of patients (using CAMPAS-R) and showed that there was good agreement on pain and physical symptoms, but that professionals overestimated the severity of emotional symptoms. [3]
Implications for practice
- The tool is simple and easy to use, and has been designed specifically for use by patients at home receiving care from non-specialist palliative care providers
- It can be completed by either the patient or a proxy
- The developers of the tool suggest it could be used as a patient-held record to allow ongoing monitoring of symptoms and concerns in community patients.
Related CareSearch pages
Audit
References
- Rogers MS, Barclay SI, Todd CJ. Developing the Cambridge palliative audit schedule (CAMPAS): a palliative care audit for primary health care teams. British Journal of General Practice. 1998 May;48(430):1224-7.
- Ewing G, Todd C, Rogers M, Barclay S, McCabe J, Martin A. Validation of a symptom measure suitable for use among palliative care patients in the community: CAMPAS-R. Journal of Pain & Symptom Management. 2004 Apr;27(4):287-99.
- Ewing G, Rogers M, Barclay S, McCabe J, Martin A, Campbell M, et al. Palliative care in primary care: a study to determine whether patients and professionals agree on symptoms. British Journal of General Practice. 2006 Jan;56(522):27-34.
This page was created on 22 May 2008 and is due for review in May 2010