title: When is it appropriate to deliver a prognosis to Korean persons with acute spinal cord injury?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In cases of complete spinal cord injury (SCI), which has a poor probability of recovery, the timely delivery of a prognosis may be crucial to help patients adapt to their situation. The study aimed to help for choose the appropriate time for delivering a prognosis to persons with SCI.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three hundred and four members of the Korean SCI Association with complete SCI were surveyed regarding the time at which their prognosis was communicated and their views about the appropriate time for prognosis delivery. Demographic and injury characteristics were also collected. Respondents' experience and opinions on prognosis communication were analysed to assess potential associations with demographic and injury profiles.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants' opinions regarding the time of prognosis delivery varied. Many respondents (44.1%) reported that the appropriate time would be within 1 month postinjury, whereas the others felt it should occur either between 1 and 3 months (29.3%) or more than 3 months (10.2%). The comparison of time of prognosis communication with the opinions showed that most would have preferred an earlier delivery of prognosis than they had experienced.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings provide insight to physicians on the appropriate time for delivering a prognosis to individuals with complete SCI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hye-Ri
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hyung Ik
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Shin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D044466:Asian People; D002648:Child; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011379:Prognosis; D056910:Republic of Korea; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult