The EFAT was specifically designed to evaluate functional performance of patients with advanced cancer over time and to document the degrees of functional performance of patients throughout the terminal phase. It is also useful in the evaluation of the rehabilitation effect.

Assessment is quick and simple and does not require much training.

The EFAT assesses the status of 10 functions, mainly; communication, pain, mental status, dyspnea, sitting or standing balance, mobility, walk or wheelchair locomotion, activities of daily living, fatigue, and motivation.
Each item is evaluated by a 4-point rating scale from 0 to 3 (0 = functional independent performance; 3 = total loss of functional performance).
A highest possible score on the EFAT is 30.
In addition to the EFAT, a global performance status rating (PS) asks for an overall judgment of functional performance taking into account the 10 functions assessed by the EFAT.

EFAT

The Edmonton Zone Palliative Care Program. The Edmonton Functional Assessment Tool. Internet. Accessed January 25, 2015.