[Present status of computerization in routine pathology work in Japan: a questionnaire survey and its analysis]

A total of 71.7% of the institutions surveyed were using computers, and most of the institutions not using computers were considering their introduction. Large computers were being used by 36% of the institutions and personal computers (PCs) by 61%. With regard to software, 88% of the large computers had been programmed by professionals, while 76% of the PCs were using commercially available software. The wide difference between the software used by the two types of computer makes it advisable to discuss them separately. The details on the patients at the stage of specimen registration was received on-line in 57% of institutions using large computers but in only 5.7% of those using PCs. Coding had been implemented in 47% of institutions using large computers and in 16% of those using PCs. The rate of use for case reference was 55% for large computers and 44% for PCs. References using a register as well as codes and letter data were also observed. It is considered that a wide-ranging method of reference will probably lead to better ideas than a scrupulous method. In the present survey, 59% of institutions using large computers and 35% of those using PCs replied that system improvements were troublesome. The only way to ensure the privacy of patients and the protection of pathological data is to enhance awareness among medical doctors and paramedical personnel. It is hoped that some organization will lead the way in collecting computer information on pathology duties and make this available free of charge.