Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS)

The Edmonton Symptom Assessment System is a rapid, validated 9-item tool that assesses the severity of common symptoms in cancer and palliative care patients: pain, tiredness, nausea, depression, anxiety, drowsiness, appetite loss, general well-being, and shortness of breath. Developed by Bruera and colleagues at the University of Alberta in 1991, the ESAS has become the standard symptom-screening instrument in oncology clinics, palliative care units, and end-of-life care settings worldwide, enabling efficient symptom prioritization and management escalation.