Table 4 The difference between the first and the last assessments in each group

SAS

 Difficulty sleeping

1

(0–6)

3

(0–8)

0.037

2

(0–5)

1.5

(0–8.75)

0.078

 Appetite problems

2

(0–4)

2

(0–8)

0.040

0.5

(0–4.5)

3

(0–10)

0.017

 Nausea

0

(0–2)

0

(0–2)

0.421

0

(0–2.75)

0

(0–5.25)

0.465

 Bowel problems

1

(0–5)

1

(0–5)

0.883

0.5

(0–5)

0

(0–8)

0.394

 Breathing problems

0

(0–4)

2

(0–7)

0.029

1

(0–4.5)

4

(1–7.5)

0.061

 Fatigue

1

(1–7)

3

(1–8)

0.142

3

(0.25–7.5)

2.5

(0.25–9.75)

0.307

 Pain

1

(0–5)

2

(0–6)

0.536

1

(0.25–5.75)

1

(0.25–6.5)

0.551

PCPSS

 Pain

1

(0–2)

1

(0–1)

0.239

1

(1–1.75)

0.5

(0–1)

0.014

 Other symptoms

1

(1–2)

1

(1–2.75)

0.726

1

(0–1.75)

1

(0.25–1.75)

0.271

 Psychological/spiritual

1

(1–2)

1

(0–1)

0.006

1

(0–1)

1

(0–1.75)

0.480

 Family/carer

1

(1–2)

1

(1–1)

0.058

1

(0.25–1.75)

1

(1–2)

0.317

AKPS

40

(30–40)

20

(20–30)

 < 0.001

40

(30–50)

20

(20–37.5)

0.023

RUG-ADL

 Bed mobility

4

(3–4)

4

(4–4.75)

 < 0.001

3

(3–5)

4

(3.25–5)

0.071

 Toileting

4

(3–4)

4

(4–5)

 < 0.001

4

(1.5–5)

4.5

(3.25–5)

0.102

 Transfer

4

(3–4)

4

(4–5)

 < 0.001

3.5

(1.5–4.75)

4

(3.25–5)

0.058

 Eating

2

(2–3)

3

(3–3)

 < 0.001

2

(1–3)

3

(2–3)

0.063

Palliative care phase, n(%)

 < 0.001

0.016

 1–2

37

(84.1%)

15

(34.1%)

11

(91.7%)

4

(33.3%)

 3–5

7

(15.9%)

29

(65.9%)

1

(8.3%)

8

(66.7%)