title: A consumer decision support system for common health ailments in South Africa.
abstract: Access to health services is difficult in many rural areas of South Africa. A basic computerised decision support system (CDSS) has been developed to assist consumers to reduce the number of unnecessary visits to health care facilities. Consumers are prompted to enter details of their symptoms, and the CDSS assesses the likelihood of their suffering from one of ten common ailments, such as tuberculosis or hypertension. Advice is given on whether the consumer should seek care from a health care professional.
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa.
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Horner
authors.forename: Lyn A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Hanmer
authors.forename: Nolwazi D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Mbananga
mesh_terms: D003256:Community Participation; D003658:Decision Making, Computer-Assisted; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D012424:Rural Population; D013019:South Africa