Computer assisted medical history taking

In this thesis a study is described which was performed to explore the possibilities of computer-assisted history taking to support patient care. A system was developed by which the patient himself enters his medical data into a computer. The system enables an unexperienced user, i.e. a patient, to answer questions asked to him by an "intelligent" computerized questionnaire. In developing this system, use has been made of a fourthgeneration programming package. The system appeared to be user-friendly and was easily adaptable in the pilot phase of the study. During automated history-taking. 99 patients were presented with the medical questionnaire on the screen of a computer terminal in the form of multiple choice questions. By pressing one of several function keys, the patient could indicate his answer. His choice appeared immediately as full text on the screen for verification. At the end of a session, all answers were immediately printed and given to the patient for further verification. All patients had a regular history taken directly after the automated interview. The conventional history was written in the medical record. The doctor had no prior knowledge about the contents of the computerized interview