Functional status of cancer patients. Free to use.
ECOG PS (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status) is a validated clinical instrument used to assess functional status of cancer patients. The instrument contains 1 item.
Source / attribution: Oken MM et al. Am J Clin Oncol. 1982;5(6):649-655.
The instrument's primary construct — functional status of cancer patients — is operationalized through a fixed set of items, each with a defined response format. This standardisation is what allows ECOG PS scores to be compared meaningfully across clinicians, sites, and studies.
Like all screening or assessment instruments, ECOG PS is a structured aid — not a diagnostic test in isolation. Results should be interpreted alongside history, examination, and clinical context. Where a score crosses an actionable threshold, the next step is typically a more detailed clinical evaluation rather than a definitive diagnosis.
Answer all 1 item below to see your ECOG PS score and interpretation.
Each item is scored on a 6-point scale (0–5). Your score updates live as you answer.
All scoring runs in your browser. No data is sent anywhere — close the tab and the answers are gone.
ECOG PS uses simple summation: each item's selected response is converted to a numeric value, and the values are added to produce a total score. Reverse-scored items are inverted before summation.
The cutoffs below are drawn from the published validation literature. Always interpret in clinical context.
| Score range | Band | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| 0–1 | Good performance status | ECOG 0–1 — generally fit for systemic therapy. |
| 2–2 | Borderline | ECOG 2 — therapy decisions individualised. |
| 3–5 | Poor performance status | ECOG 3+ — generally not candidates for cytotoxic therapy; supportive care priority. |
This is an illustrative walkthrough, not a real patient. Follow the same four steps with your own answers — or use the live calculator at the top of this page.
Read each question and choose the response that best fits. Each response has a number next to it — that number is the item's score. The example below uses illustrative answers.
| # | Item | Example response | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Performance status | 2 — Ambulatory, capable of self-care but unable to carry out work activities; up > 50 % of waking hours. | 2 |
Add up all the item scores you noted in Step 1.
2 = 2
Find the row in the interpretation table whose range contains your total:
Total = 2 falls between 2 and 2 → Borderline
Borderline. ECOG 2 — therapy decisions individualised.
A score is one input alongside history and examination. ECOG PS supports clinical judgment — it does not replace it.
If ECOG PS doesn't fit your context, related instruments in oncology include:
| Scale | Measures | Items | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Karnofsky PS | Functional status of cancer / chronic-illness patients | 1 | — |
| PHQ-9 | Severity of depression | 9 | ≈ 3 minutes |
| GAD-7 | Severity of generalized anxiety | 7 | ≈ 2 minutes |
| AUDIT | 10-item WHO screening tool for hazardous alcohol consumption and dependence. | 10 | ≈ 3 min |
| CHA2DS2-VASc | Annual stroke risk in non-valvular atrial fibrillation | 8 | — |
| Glasgow Coma Scale | Level of consciousness after head injury | 3 | — |
| MELD-Na | 3-month mortality in advanced liver disease; transplant prioritization | 5 | — |
ECOG PS (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status) is a validated instrument that assesses functional status of cancer patients.
ECOG PS contains 1 item. Items are summed to produce a total score.
Scores of 3–5 fall in the "Poor performance status" band. ECOG 3+ — generally not candidates for cytotoxic therapy; supportive care priority.
Scores of 0–1 fall in the "Good performance status" band. ECOG 0–1 — generally fit for systemic therapy.
Yes — ECOG PS is in the public domain and free for clinical, educational, and research use without permission.
Oken MM et al. Toxicity and response criteria of the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group. Am J Clin Oncol. 1982;5(6):649-655.
No. ECOG PS is a structured assessment aid. A score is one input alongside history, examination, and clinical context. Treatment decisions should never rest on a screening score alone.
ECOG PS is supported by the following peer-reviewed sources: