Integration of a data dictionary and a clinical database in an expert system for acute abdominal pain

Despite promising results, computer-aided diagnosis in acute abdominal pain is rarely used in the clinic. We therefore developed an expert system for acute abdominal pain to be used in clinical routine. The system is based on a new approach integrating a data dictionary, a clinical database and the knowledge base. A data dictionary editor has been developed (C++, WINDOWS, IBM-compatible PC) and a data dictionary for acute abdominal pain has been built up. The clinical database has been linked to a documentation program providing three modes of data entry. The documentation program has been evaluated extensively by clinicians. The integrated approach clearly separates clinical data from knowledge, but guarantees high consistency of data.