Prognosisoriented

Prognosisoriented is an adjective describing an approach in clinical practice or research that prioritizes prognosis—the likely course and outcome of a disease or condition—as the central consideration in decision making, communication, and planning. The term is not widely standardized in medical taxonomies, but it is used in discussions contrasting prognosis-focused frameworks with diagnosis- or treatment-focused ones. In practice, prognosis-oriented care involves presenting patients with information about likely illness trajectories, considering expected survival, functional outcomes, and quality of life when choosing tests, therapies, or care levels. It can guide resource allocation, advance care planning, and goals-of-care conversations, particularly in chronic illness, geriatrics, and palliative contexts.

Prognosis-oriented strategies rely on prognostic models, risk stratification, and evidence about outcomes, while emphasizing alignment with patient values and preferences through shared decision making. Potential benefits include more tailored interventions, avoidance of burdensome treatments unlikely to help, and improved patient understanding. Potential drawbacks include uncertainty inherent in prognostic estimates, possible bias or negativity, and the risk of prematurely limiting options.

Related concepts include prognostic communication, prognosis-based care, and patient-centered or goals-of-care planning. As a descriptor, prognosisoriented reflects a shift from disease- or intervention-centered thinking toward outcome- and trajectory-focused care.