Performance Scales

Article

The Karnofsky performance index and WHO (Zubrod) scale (on the following page) are included here because they are commonly used as proxy measures for quality of life.

Karnofsky performance index

Able to carry on normal activity and to work
100
Normal; no complaints; no evidence of disease
90
Able to carry on normal activity; minor signs or symptoms of disease
80
Normal activity with effort; some signs or symptoms of disease
Unable to work; able to live at home, care for most personal needs; a varying amount of assistance is needed
70
Cares for self; unable to carry on normal activity or to do active work
60
Requires occasional assistance but is able to care for most needs
50
Requires considerable assistance and frequent medical care
Unable to care for self; requires equivalent of institutional or hospital care; disease may be progressing rapidly
40
Disabled; requires special care and assistance
30
Severely disabled; hospitalization is indicated, although death is not imminent
20
Very sick; hospitalization necessary; active supportive treatment necessary
10
Moribund; fatal processes progressing rapidly
0
Dead

 

The Karnofsky performance index and WHO (Zubrod) scale (on the following page) are included here because they are commonly used as proxy measures for quality of life. Because they measure only one dimension of the construct, they would not be considered quality-of-life measures by today’s standards. However, given their historic relevance and current high frequency of usage as proxy measures, we have included them here.

WHO (Zubrod) scale

This scale is used to measure performance of which the patient is capable. For example, a patient in the hospital for metabolic studies may be fully capable of performing normal activities but will remain in bed through his or her own choice. Such a patient should be coded 0, “normal.”

0
 
Normal activity
1
 
Symptoms but nearly fully ambulatory
2
 
Some bed time but needs to be in bed< 50% of normal daytime
3
 
Needs to be in bed > 50% of normal daytime
4
 
Unable to get out of bed

 

From Zubrod CG, Schneiderman M, Frei E III, et al: Appraisal of methods for the study of chemotherapy of cancer in man: Comparative therapeutic trial of nitrogen mustard and triethylene thiophosphoramide. J Chron Dis 11:7–33, 1960.

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