Math 225N Week 4 Discussion, Probability

MATH 225N WEEK 4 DISCUSSION, PROBABILITY Consider when you are listening to a new patient who says they have had a fever for 3 days. You would use your knowledge and experience with probability to come to a diagnosis. What changes those probabilities? Is it age, is it other symptoms, is it new study results? What is the source of these probabilities and what causes these probabilities to change? This discussion is not to debate diagnoses, but to focus on the sources and influences on probabilities. Follow-Up Post Instructions Respond to at least two peers or one peer and the instructor. Further the dialogue by providing more information and clarification. Professor and Class, When evaluating a patient, you must have decision making skills. “Evidence-based decision making, like all decision making, involves choosing from a discrete range of options, which may include doing nothing or a “wait and see” strategy” (Thompson, 2004.) When evaluating a oncology patient verses a typical patient the probabilities could be many. When a cancer patient hits their Nadair, 7-10 days after treatment, and present with a fever it could be very crucial for your decision making when treating the patient. Some of the probabilities of a fever could be Neoplastic, chemotherapy induced, or infection. “Neoplastic fever (i.e., fever induced by tumor growth) is the most common non-infectious cause of fever in people with cancer” ( Holle, 2018.) Chemotherapy- induced neutropenia is a major risk factor for infections in patient with cancer and leaves patients more susceptible to bacterial infection. A fever resulting from infection often presents with spiking temperatures and is associated with chills, warmth, and sweating. Typical any temperature over 100.4 would be cause for the patient to go to an ER or be evaluated by their oncology physician. Let’s say the probability of a neoplastic fever is 40 %, chemotherapy induced is 30% and infection is 20%. P(N)=0.40, p(C)=0.30, and P(I)-0.20. From research neoplastic is the most common non-infection risk factor. Each of these would be treated differently. References: Holle, M. R. B. O.; Engekle, Z. R. M. Fever Management in Patients with Cancer. CINAHL Nursing Guide, [s. l.], 2018. Disponível em: https://search-ebscohost- Holmes, A., Illowsky, B., & Dean, S. (2017). Introductory Business Statistics. Houston, TX: OpenStax CNX. Retrieved from Thompson C, A beginner’s guide to probability, Evidence-Based Nursing 2009;12:67-70. Retrieved from: