Accurate prognostications of death. Opportunities and challenges for clinicians.
Linking survival time to an array of prognostic variables through a powerful statistical model can provide reliable, valid and potentially useful information for patient care. We present a summary of the recently developed SUPPORT model [Study to Understand Prognoses and Preferences for Outcomes and Risks of Treatment] for estimating survival time of seriously ill adult inpatients and illustrate the possible clinical use of such a model. This model is then translated into counseling. Clinicians are positioned to evaluate the relevance and validity of any model and to understand their persistent shortcomings.
Lynn
J
J
Center to Improve Care of the Dying, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA.
Teno
J M
JM
Harrell
F E
FE
D000328:Adult; D032722:Advance Care Planning; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009026:Mortality; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate; D035501:Uncertainty