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 modern access and the telephone network. During an eight-month study period, 1053 queries were received. The range of duration of the queries was 130-350 s. 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.
Tountas
Y
Y
Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, Athens, Greece. ispm@compulink.gr
Saroglou
G
G
Frissiras
S
S
Vatopoulos
A
A
Salaminios
F
F
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016208:Databases, Factual / Q000592:standards*; D005103:Expert Systems; D006801:Humans; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents