International journal of medical informatics
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Comparative Study
Comparison of CD-Rom and Internet access to clinical information.
The New Zealand National Poisons Centre has developed an extensive clinical poisons information database, TOXINZ. This resource was originally provided on a CD-Rom, and in 2002 made accessible solely via the Internet (www.toxinz.com). It was unknown whether users would prefer the CD-Rom or Internet version to access the same information. ⋯ Those developing Internet accessible databases for a healthcare environment are encouraged to incorporate robust search functionality, mobility solutions, and an ability to integrate with other healthcare applications.
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Comparative Study
Testing the impact of a multimedia video CD of patient-controlled analgesia on pain knowledge and pain relief in patients receiving surgery.
This study aimed to develop a multimedia video CD (VCD) of patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) and test its effects on pain knowledge and pain relief in patients receiving surgery. This multimedia VCD of PCA was created to convey fundamental knowledge to both patients and their family members and help patients properly utilize PCA devices to relieve pain and improve recovery. The content of multimedia VCD of PCA included pre-admission pain education, introduction of PCA, nursing care procedures, and questions and answers. ⋯ The clinical application of the multimedia VCD of PCA could help patients improve knowledge on pain, learn how to use PCA devices, achieve proper pain relief, and increase effectiveness of recovery activities.
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To (1) discover the types of errors most commonly found in clinical notes that are generated either using automatic speech recognition (ASR) or via human transcription and (2) to develop efficient rules for classifying these errors based on the categories found in (1). The purpose of classifying errors into categories is to understand the underlying processes that generate these errors, so that measures can be taken to improve these processes. ⋯ A simple method is presented for examining errors in transcribed documents and classifying these errors into meaningful and useful categories. Such a classification can potentially help pinpoint sources of such errors so that measures (such as better training of the speaker and improved dictionary and language modeling) can be taken to optimize the error rates.
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This paper describes how informatics tools can support shared decision making and risk communication and thereby play an important role in enhancing patient safety. Using preference elicitation techniques and knowledge on risk communication, such tools can help patients understand their treatment options and associated short- and long-term benefits and risks, assist in the elicitation of patient preferences, and help patients and clinicians in making treatment choices with the highest likelihood of achieving desired patient outcomes. Important features of such tools are proposed, including: (1) Interactive tutorials to improve risk comprehension and prepare patients and clinicians for the decision making task; (2) choices between different presentation modes to meet patients' individual reading levels and presentation preferences; (3) risk calculations that account for individual risk profiles; (4) performance of necessary calculations to reach the actual decision; (5) automatic updates of evidence; and (6) the use of different preference-elicitation techniques.
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Comparative Study
Diagnostic accuracy of chest X-rays acquired using a digital camera for low-cost teleradiology.
Store-and-forward telemedicine, using e-mail to send clinical data and digital images, offers a low-cost alternative for physicians in developing countries to obtain second opinions from specialists. To explore the potential usefulness of this technique, 91 chest X-ray images were photographed using a digital camera and a view box. Four independent readers (three radiologists and one pulmonologist) read two types of digital (JPEG and JPEG2000) and original film images and indicated their confidence in the presence of eight features known to be radiological indicators of tuberculosis (TB). ⋯ There was no statistical difference in the overall performance between the readings from the original films and both types of digital images. The size of JPEG2000 images was approximately 120KB, making this technique feasible for slow internet connections. Our preliminary results show the potential usefulness of this technique particularly for tuberculosis and lung disease, but further studies are required to refine its potential.