Computer-unaided diagnosis of acute abdominal pain in an accident and emergency department.
The initial accident and emergency and final in-patient diagnoses of 200 patients with acute abdominal pain made without computer aid or structured data sheet were compared. Sixty-five per cent were correctly diagnosed and 5% had normal laparotomies. These results compare favourably with those obtained using computer aid and structured history-taking forms. It is suggested that the spotlight should be on the training and experience of doctors making the initial diagnosis rather than on computer aid.
D000006:Abdomen, Acute / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D004650:Employee Performance Appraisal; D006801:Humans; D012189:Retrospective Studies