Principles of an oncology data base for small computers.
It is now possible to store large amounts of data, which can be rapidly retrieved and cross-referenced, on relatively inexpensive computers. This study was done to determine if a small computer could be used to store detailed data on patients attending an oncology clinic in such a manner that personnel inexperienced in the use of computers would be able to enter or access information without training or the need for reference literature. Ninety items can be entered on each patient under 11 options (demography, diagnosis, laboratory, tumour markers, investigations, surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy, complications, clinic visits and palliative care). The data can be retrieved rapidly on any individual or group of patients and cross-referenced to two or more variables and can be updated, corrected or transmitted by an automated print-out in letter form. The study illustrates basic principles in program design that will function on any "home" computer.
D003201:Computers; D006753:Hospital Records; D006801:Humans; D007256:Information Systems; D008838:Microcomputers; D009369:Neoplasms