One dimension of difference is clinician intent:
A diagnostic test is ordered to establish the probabilities of a group of candidate physiologic processes.
A prognostic test is ordered to establish the probabilities of candidate courses of the disease process.
Many tests satisfy both intentions and may be ordered with either single intention or combining the two.
Jim
James M. Walker, MD, FACP
Chief Health Information Officer
Geisinger Health System
If the human mind was simple enough to understand, we'd be too simple to understand it.
- Emerson Pugh
>>> Steve Simon <[log in to unmask]> 2/20/2009 2:21 PM >>>
Maybe this is a stupid question, but here goes.
What is the difference between a diagnostic study and a prognostic
study? Is it that diagnostic study examines one of more factors that can
help identify an already existing condition whereas a prognostic study
examines one of more factors that can predict a future condition? Is it
that diagnosis is targeted towards something bad (disease) while
prognosis is targeted towards something good (recovery)? Or is it
something else?
--
Steve Simon, Standard Disclaimer.
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