Evidence about PROGNOSIS

Question 1

What is prognosis?

Answer 1

making informed predictions about progress of disease in future
Px has disease

Question 2

What can knowing prognosis help with?

Answer 2

• Reassure Px by removing doubt about future
• Decide when intervention should be considered
• Determine the optimal time to intervene for one-off interventions (e.g. cataract Sx)
• Adjust predictions about average course of a condition depending on individual Px factors

Question 3

Study types for prognosis

Answer 3

case control (looking back)

cohort (looking forward)

Question 4

Difference between cohort and cross sectional study

Answer 4

cohort is longitudinal

Question 5

Are case control studies good for determining causation?

Answer 5

NO- too bias

Question 6

How to make clinical question for prognosis?

How is it different to making questions for others?

Answer 6

P- patient
I- intervention/issue
C- not used 
O- outcome 
T- time (if outcome changes with time)

Question 7

How to assess prognosis quality?

Answer 7

CASP

Critical Appraisal Skills Program

Question 8

How are continuous outcomes reported for prognosis?

Answer 8

Mean value at a certain time

Question 9

How are dichotomous and ordinal outcomes measured?

Answer 9

proportions (e.g. lesion increasing in size by 66%)

Question 10

How do we know when to consider the results of a study as precise?

Answer 10

95% Confidence Interval

can estimate if not provided