Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Sympmed I: computer program for primary health care.

M W Uplekar1, N H Antia, P S Dhumale

  • 1Foundation for Research in Community Health, Worli, Bombay.

BMJ (Clinical Research Ed.)
|October 1, 1988
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

The optimal use of health resources by a functional classification of diseases.

The National medical journal of India·2018
Same author

Private doctors and public health: The case of leprosy in Bombay, India.

The National medical journal of India·2018
Same author

Simple methods for disinfecting household drinking water.

The National medical journal of India·2018
Same author

Surgery of leprosy.

The National medical journal of India·2018
Same author

Surgical Procedures in Leprosy.

Indian journal of dermatology and venereology·2017
Same author

Ethnobotanical survey of antidiarrhoeal plants of Parinche valley, Pune district, Maharashtra, India.

Journal of ethnopharmacology·2009
Same journal

UK alcohol deaths: we know that minimum unit pricing works.

BMJ (Clinical research ed.)·2026
Same journal

Ebola control is weakened by mistrust and cultural insensitivity.

BMJ (Clinical research ed.)·2026
Same journal

Open letter to the Health and Safety Executive on work related suicides.

BMJ (Clinical research ed.)·2026
Same journal

The hand surgeon who sailed in the wake of Captain Cook.

BMJ (Clinical research ed.)·2026
Same journal

Cannibalism: scientists say it's bad for your health.

BMJ (Clinical research ed.)·2026
Same journal

Measurement of ethnicity in clinical trials: Delphi survey and consensus statement.

BMJ (Clinical research ed.)·2026
See all related articles

The Sympmed I computer program safely identifies treatments for outpatients. It accurately recommended comparable treatments for most patients, reducing unnecessary doctor visits in primary healthcare settings.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Informatics
  • Primary Healthcare Technology
  • Clinical Decision Support Systems

Background:

  • Outpatient care in developing countries often involves simple, repetitive conditions.
  • Computer programs can potentially assist in identifying appropriate treatments for common ailments.
  • Ensuring the safety and efficacy of automated treatment recommendations is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the safety and accuracy of the experimental computer program, Sympmed I.
  • To assess Sympmed I's ability to identify appropriate treatments for outpatients.
  • To compare computer-generated treatment recommendations with those of general practitioners.

Main Methods:

  • Patient symptoms were inputted into Sympmed I by both a junior doctor and a non-medical engineer.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Prescriptions generated by Sympmed I were compared against those prescribed by a general practitioner.
  • Safety was assessed by verifying that patients needing to see a doctor were not offered home treatment.

    • Main Results:

    • Sympmed I offered comparable prescriptions to general practitioners for 78% of patients (junior doctor input) and 69% (engineer input).
    • Patients not suitable for program recommendation were correctly advised to consult a doctor.
    • No instances occurred where Sympmed I recommended treatment for patients requiring immediate medical attention.

    Conclusions:

    • Sympmed I demonstrates safety and accuracy in recommending treatments for common outpatient conditions.
    • The program effectively distinguishes between treatable conditions and those requiring physician consultation.
    • Sympmed I shows potential for improving primary healthcare efficiency by managing simple, repetitive cases.