Table 2.

Palliative prognostic tools investigated in included studies. ASA, American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Grading Score. ∗General indicators of decline include overall deterioration, decreasing functional activity, increasing dependence, progressive weight loss. ^†Specific indicators of decline relate to deterioration directly owing to certain conditions such as advanced cancer, end-organ failure. or dementia. (From The Gold Standards Framework – Proactive Indicator Guidance.²⁶)

Palliative prognostic tool	Criteria	Identifies	Purpose
Surprise Question (SQ)22	‘No’ response to ‘Would I be surprised if the patient dies in the next 12 months’?	Illness phase	Assess palliative care needs
Gold Standard Framework – Proactive Indicator Guidance (GSF-PIG)26	SQ ‘No’ response General indicators of decline∗ Specific indicators of decline†	Illness phase and illness trajectory	Assess palliative care needs
Supportive and Palliative Care Indicator Tool (SPICT)27	General indicators of decline∗ Specific indicators of decline†	Illness trajectory	Assess palliative care needs
Palliative Index30	Four domains 1.Active disease 2.Tumour-related indication for surgery 3.ASA physical status >3 4.Creatinine >1.3 mg dl−1	Score 0–5 Two points for active disease One point for each other criterion	Predict survival after surgery for patients with cancer (higher scores predict poorer survival)