A dialogue-based approach for dealing with uncertain and conflicting information in medical diagnosis

In this paper, we propose a multi-agent framework to deal with situations involving uncertain or inconsistent information located in a distributed environment which cannot be combined into a single knowledge base. To this end, we introduce an inquiry dialogue approach based on a combination of possibilistic logic and a formal argumentation-based theory, where possibilistic logic is used to capture uncertain information, and the argumentation-based approach is used to deal with inconsistent knowledge in a distributed environment. We also modify the framework of earlier work, so that the system is not only easier to implement but also more suitable for educational purposes. The suggested approach is implemented in a clinical decision-support system in the domain of dementia diagnosis. The approach allows the physician to suggest a hypothetical diagnosis in a patient case, which is verified through the dialogue if sufficient patient information is present. If not, the user is informed about the missing information and potential inconsistencies in the information as a way to provide support for continuing medical education. The approach is presented, discussed, and applied to one scenario. The results contribute to the theory and application of inquiry dialogues in situations where the data are uncertain and inconsistent.