The APCA African POS contains 10 items, addressing the physical and psychological symptoms, spiritual, practical and emotional concerns, and psychosocial needs of the patient and family. The answers to all questions are scored using Likert scales from 0 to 5, with numerical and descriptive labels. Questions 1-7 are directed at patients; questions 8-10 are directed at family informal caregivers and include a 'Not applicable' option for use when the patient does not have an informal carer. The African version of the POS is staff-completed, owing to varying levels of patient and family literacy. Respondents indicate their answers either verbally or using a hand scale (0 = closed fist, 5 = all fingers open). The responses use a combination of high score = best status and low score = best status as a mechanism to ensure that administration, and response formulation to the individual items, are conducted with due care and attention
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Validation of a core outcome measure for palliative care in Africa: the APCA African Palliative Outcome Scale Validation of a core outcome measure for palliative care in Africa: the APCA African Palliative Outcome Scale. Harding R, Selman L, Aguipo G, Dinat N, Downing J, Gwyther L, Mashao T, Mmoledi K, Moll T, Sebuyira LM, Panjatovic B, Higginson IJ.. Health Qual Life Outcomes 2010;8(10). Link
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2483665/
Impact of the APCA African Palliative Outcome Scale (POS) on care and practice