OBJECTIVES To design a computerised system of calculating resuscitation requirements and to test this system to ensure that it gives accurate and fast results, so that it could potentially be used in the resuscitation of patients in a accident and emergency (A&E) department. METHODS Using internet based technology we have developed a program that runs inside most web browsers and can be used ...

Safety in the clinical environment is based on structures that reduce the probability of harm, on evidence that enhances the likelihood of actions that increase favourable outcomes, and on explicit directions that lead to decisions to implement the actions dictated by this evidence. A clinical decision error rate of only 1% threatens patient safety at a distressing frequency. Explicit computeri...

PURPOSE Computerised decision support systems are designed to support clinicians in making decisions and thereby enhance the quality and safety of care. We aimed to undertake an interpretative review of the empirical evidence on computerised decision support systems, their contexts of use, and summarise evidence on the effectiveness of these tools and insights into how these can be successfully...

Tibiofemoral alignment has a direct correlation with the survival of total knee arthroplasty. Traditionally, it has been measured using a goniometer on radiographs. We describe new software which measures this alignment on scanned radiographs by automatically detecting bones in the image. Two surgeons used conventional methods and two clerical officers used the computerised routine to assess 58...

OBJECTIVE To investigate the numbers of visits required to obtain interviews with users and non-users of cervical screening, and to determine the workload involved to enable an optimum visit plan to be developed. DESIGN Case-control study of users and non-users of cervical screening using a flexible visit plan that involved up to eight attempts at contact. Visits were made in mornings, aftern...

OBJECTIVES To evaluate inter-observer agreement for microscopic measurement of inflammation in synovial tissue using manual quantitative, semiquantitative and computerised digital image analysis. METHODS Paired serial sections of synovial tissue, obtained at arthroscopic biopsy of the knee from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), were stained immunohistochemically for T lymphocyte (CD3) ...

QUESTIONS UNDER STUDY Computerised order entry and clinical decision support systems (CDSSs) are considered to be important strategies to safeguard drug treatment. Although their dissemination is nationally enforced in Switzerland, current implementation rates vary. Moreover, types and implementation modes of CDSSs can differ substantially. This study maps the implementation of computerised ord...

Presently used dietary-assessment methods often present difficulties for researchers and respondents, and misreporting errors are common. Methods using information and communication technologies (ICT) may improve quality and accuracy. The present paper presents a systematic literature review describing studies applying ICT to dietary assessment. Eligible papers published between January 1995 an...