Evaluation of GPs' medical knowledge by a decision support system

This paper deals with the EValuator which is a multipurpose DSS. EV can be applied by creators of automated disease and therapy models to get insight into knowledge necessary for diagnosis and treatment of diseases. GPs, trainees/interns, hospital clinicians, and students can test their medical knowledge with EV. If necessary, EV offers decision support. In a functionality test, EV was used by GPs to assess their knowledge of thyroid disorders. Test conclusions referred to the GPs' level of medical knowledge of thyroid disorders, differences in EV usage by urban and rural GPs, use of thyroid disorder indices and the GPs' commendations that EV is capable of providing automated decision support to medical professionals in daily practice, and that it can very well be used in the education of students and in GP refresher courses.