title: [What is the practical value of scoring systems?].
abstract: The benefit of scoring systems in assessing and predicting the course of illness on an ICU is extremely dependent on the perspective of the user. The major point of criticism is that none of the existing systems is able to predict the individual outcome of the patient. While the clinical practician rarely benefits from the scoring systems, the scientific research of problems of intensive care patients cannot be approached without scoring the patient's condition. The greatest benefit that can be drawn from these scoring systems is undoubtedly that of controlling e.g. within the scope of quality assurance programs. However, due to the limitations and vagueness of the existing scores it has to be warned against an uncritical belief in scoring systems.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Unfallchirurgie, Klinikum der Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Frankfurt/M.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Windolf
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D011379:Prognosis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index