Which statement about prognosis is true?

• A. It should be updated only if adverse events occur
• B. It is an ongoing decision-making process regarding effectiveness
• C. It should never be changed
• D. It should be decided by the therapist alone

Answer: (B)

Prognosis is a dynamic, forward-looking assessment that guides planning and expectations about how a condition will respond to treatment. Because patient status and treatment effects can change over time, the prognosis should be continually re-evaluated as new information becomes available. This makes it an ongoing decision-making process about effectiveness: progress or lack of progress, new adverse events, changes in goals, and emerging evidence all shape outcomes and how therapy should be adjusted.

Updating only when adverse events occur misses improvements and new findings that alter likely outcomes. Saying it should never be changed is incorrect because plans must adapt to real-time response. Leaving prognosis to the therapist alone ignores the collaborative nature of care and patient goals, which are essential to accurate prognosis.