palliative prognostic measure

Introduction

A systmatic measure of prognosis in terminally ill patients. Such measures are needed

A physician's prognosis is a central element of both patient & physician decision making, especially at the end of life.

Foreseeing: a physician's silent cognitive assessment

Foretelling: what a physician relays to patient & family

Physician's prognosis are often wrong & usually optimistic

Such errors may occur at both phases (foreseeing & foretelling)

Thus, patients are often twice removed from the truth.

Most types of physicians are prone to error in most types of patients.

Physicians with more experience have better prognostic accuracy.

A stronger physician-patient relationship is associated with a lower prognostic accuracy.

More general terms

• prognosis

More specific terms

• palliative prognostic index
• palliative prognostic score
• SUPPORT prognostic model