Question

The Karnofsky prognostication scale (KPS) is a tool that clinicians use to score a patient on a scale of 0-100

	A) to predict length of survival in terminally ill patients.
	B) to describe functionality in chronically ill patients.
	C) to be used solely for billing for services.
	D) to be used in all patients, despite the tool being validated only in cancer and AIDS patients.

Answer 1

'B' is the correct answer.

Justification:

• The Karnofsky prognostication scale (KPS) represents an assesment tool to primarily check the patient's limitation in performing ordinary tasks (functionality).
• Lower the functionality,lower will be the Karnofsky prognostication scale (KPS) index.
• An effective therapy which is able to recover a patient's functionality will eventually lead to a lower Karnofsky prognostication scale (KPS) index of that patient.
• Karnofsky prognostication scale (KPS) is widely used for cancer patients.

'A' is incorrect - Though KPS is included in different models of predecting the length of survival of cancer patients, but it is not the primary function of the KPS to determine the length of survival. Apart from that there are also other important aspects to be considered to predict the length of survival, for example: the age factor.

'B' is incorrect - Billing is based on the treatments and services provided to the patient and not based on KPS.

'C' is incorrect - Karnofsky prognostication scale (KPS) is not used in all patients. It is widely used for cancer patient for long time now.