Background Studies suggest patient-reported outcome measures (PROM) enhance clinical judgment. This approach identifies changes in patient condition and encourages communication between patients and their healthcare professionals (HPCs).

Aim To review a method of assessing palliative care physical symptoms (i.e. pain, breathlessness).

Methods The IPOS (Integrated Palliative care Outcome Scale) is a concise assessment tool that evaluates a range of palliative care problems across domains, including physical and psychological symptoms, social and spiritual; communication, information needs, and practical concerns. It enhances practice by assessing the patient’s quality of life, improving healthcare interventions, and facilitating the development of other PROMs. Retrospective analyses of admission clerking to Margaret Centre was collated over a span of one week.

Results 12 new patients admitted in the first week of April 2023.

• 16.6% (2/12) of the admitted patients had one or more clinical issues quantitatively evaluated.

• 0% had quantitative evaluation of all the physical symptoms.

• 0% (0/12) of admitted patients had one or more psychological issues quantitatively evaluated.

Test of change: IPOS was integrated into the admission clerking template. The criteria previously used lacked clarity and did not provide any specific methods to measure both physical and psychological symptoms.

• After the test of change was implemented, 91.6% (11/12) of the admitted patients had one or more clinical issues quantitatively evaluated.

• 83% of patients had quantitative evaluation of all the physical symptoms.

• After the test of change was implemented, 91.6% (11/12) of admitted patients had >1 psychological issue quantitatively evaluated.

• 66% (8/12) of patients had quantitative evaluation of all psychological issues.

Conclusion IPOS helps somewhat in triaging and addressing prevailing and distressing symptoms experienced by some.