Computer-aided decision support in hepatology

The aim of this study was to describe and to evaluate the publications of the last 30 years devoted to computer-aided decision support in clinical hepatology. The search used Medlars and references of articles. Computer-aided decision support (CADS) was classified in two categories: statistical systems and knowledge-based systems. Two specific questionnaires were used for methodologic evaluation, one for statistical systems and one for knowledge-based systems. They were filled out independently by two observers. A total of 31 papers were selected among 55 identified between 1960 and 1991. The maximum possible for the two scores was 24. The methodologic quality ranged from 4 to 22 (median, 12) for statistical systems and from 8 to 12 (median, 9) for knowledge-based systems. The poor level of methodology could explain in part the lack of utilization of computer-aided decision support in the daily clinical practice of hepatologists.