Evaluation of CaDet, a computer-based clinical decision support system for early cancer detection: a comparison with the performance of clinicians.
Based on an analysis of the epidemiologic and clinical attributes of individual patients, the CaDet computer program presents physicians with data patterns that may require clinical attention with regard to early cancer detection. This study evaluated the performance of the program as a possible tool to aid clinicians in the latter. Patient data were obtained by a questionnaire from 160 healthy volunteers. Scored cancer alerts generated by the computer program in response to this data were evaluated in comparison to similar alerts provided by five expert internists who reviewed the same information in blinded fashion. The alert profiles generated by the computer for each of the patients examined were highly correlated to those provided by the clinicians. The computer's alert rate increased with the number of physicians who raised corresponding alerts (20%, 32%, 54%, 73% and 91%, respectively, for 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 physicians, p < 0.0001) and with the overall weight assigned by the physicians to these alerts (22%, 56%, 84% and 90% for cumulative scores of 1-4, 5-8, 9-12 and 13 or more points, respectively, p < 0.0001). It is concluded that the CaDet computer program may have a role in improving early detection, pending the results of further clinical research.
Heller
Israel
I
Department of Internal Medicine H, Tel Aviv Medical Center, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, 6 Weizman Street, Tel Aviv 64239, Israel. heller@tasmc.health.gov.il
Isakov
Aharon
A
Villa
Yael
Y
Natour
Haled
H
Inbar
Moshe
M
Fuchs
Jacob
J
Blinder-Vayner
Sorela
S
Shapira
Itzhak
I
Topilsky
Marcel
M
D020000:Decision Support Systems, Clinical / Q000592:standards*; D006281:Health Occupations / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012984:Software