ADAMO revisited: an interpretative review of a data management system

In this paper the use for research purposes of an existing data management system, ADAMO (A Database Management system for Oncology), is described. The aim of this paper is to discuss the experiences, obtained with this 'home-made' system and to describe some of the extensions that were recently made. Reasons are presented why the system is still extensively used by clinicians although a number of commercial database management systems is now available on personal computers. These database systems are more flexible than the system described here. It is concluded that it is precisely this flexibility of current systems that prevents an optimal use by busy clinicians. Clinicians need a research system that contains just the functions that they need. These functions have to be available via simple commands, so that no additional programming--even at the high level of a query language--is necessary.