Remote access to an expert system for infectious diseases

An expert-system antibiotic information database was developed in order to help non-specialist doctors to choose the appropriate treatment for patients with infectious diseases. Fifty doctors conducted a pilot trial of the database, using modem access and the telephone network. During an eight-month study period, 1053 queries were received. The range of duration of the queries was 130-350s. Of the queries, 473 (45%) were for particular patients with an infectious disease. The response rate to a questionnaire mailed out to the users at the end of the project was 100%. All doctors, even those who had limited experience with computers, found it easy to understand and to use the database.

[1]  J Zvárová,et al.  Computer-based evaluation of antibiotic therapy predictions. , 1991, International journal of bio-medical computing.

[2]  A. L. Baker,et al.  Performance of four computer-based diagnostic systems. , 1994, The New England journal of medicine.

[3]  M Sergl,et al.  THEMPO: a knowledge-based system for therapy planning in pediatric oncology. , 1997, Computers in biology and medicine.

[4]  Eta S. Berner,et al.  Effects of a decision support system on physicians' diagnostic performance. , 1999, Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association : JAMIA.

[5]  D Svejda,et al.  Computer supported decision making in therapy of arterial hypertension. , 1997, International journal of medical informatics.

[6]  H Lamminen,et al.  Teleconsultations between general practitioners and ophthalmologists in Finland , 1999, Journal of telemedicine and telecare.

[7]  D. Davis,et al.  Continuing education through Telemedicine for Ontario. , 1987, CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association journal = journal de l'Association medicale canadienne.

[8]  M. Marshall.  Qualitative study of educational interaction between general practitioners and specialists , 1998, BMJ.

[9]  P. Wallace,et al.  Can telemedicine be used to improve communication between primary and secondary care? , 1996, BMJ.

[10]  R S Evans,et al.  Improving empiric antibiotic selection using computer decision support. , 1994, Archives of internal medicine.

[11]  P. Taylor,et al.  A survey of research in telemedicine. 1: Telemedicine systems , 1998, Journal of telemedicine and telecare.

[12]  P H Bartels,et al.  A diagnostic expert system for colonic lesions. , 1990, American journal of clinical pathology.

[13]  A. Allen,et al.  Telemedicine technology and clinical applications. , 1995, JAMA.

[14]  R. Shih,et al.  Telemedicine in the emergency department: a randomized controlled trial , 1999, Journal of telemedicine and telecare.