Prognostic factor??

[spk~]

Whats a poor prognostic factor mean? Is it saying that its unlikely that whatever it is has contributed to the problem??? My head is bubbled trying to figure it out !!

[bednobs]

are you refering to a medical situation? I'll give you a medical analogy in case

Someone has cancer, and the doctors are trying to work out how long they have to live. examples of poor prognostic factors would be finding the cancer at an advanced stage, or the cancer already having spread.

So basically what it means is contributing negitively to the ultimate outcome

[spk~]

perfect, Thanks !!! I get it now, I wasnt sure if it was good, or bad, its a medical thing where a doctor said "th eunderlying diagnosis of depression has to be regarded as a potentially poor prognostic factor " I just didnt understand what it meant and I had no-one else to ask. So thanks for taking away my frown :)