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At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed2004

Mixture distribution analysis of a computer assisted diagnostic method for the evaluation of pulmonary nodules on computed tomography scan.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: To compare the effectiveness of a new computational scheme for pulmonary nodule detection in computed tomography images against human observers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study involved evaluation of 81 potential nodules by four radiologists. Each radiologist separately evaluated the potential nodules and provided a confidence level for the presence of pulmonary nodules. Their performance was compared with that of the new computational scheme by mixture distribution analysis. RESULTS: Mixture distribution analysis of the results of the four radiologists demonstrated a relative proportion agreement of 0.84. The kappa statistic was used to compare the agreement of the computational scheme with the results of the four radiologists. A kappa value of .65 (se = .11) was shown to be significantly different from chance (P = .99). CONCLUSION: The new computational scheme correlates well with the radiologists' subjective rankings of pulmonary nodules on computed tomography scans and may prove a useful tool in the evaluation of algorithms for the screening and diagnosis of lung cancer.

Humans↗
PubMed2002

Assessment of emergency medicine residents' computer knowledge and computer skills: time for an upgrade?

OBJECTIVE: To describe emergency medicine residents' (EMRs') personal computer (PC) use and educational needs and to compare their perceived and actual PC skills. METHODS: This was a prospective, cross-sectional study. Subjects were all EMRs at seven midwestern Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) residency programs. The EMRs completed a questionnaire about their PC use and ability to perform 23 tasks derived from two national retail-training programs. The tasks covered word processing, slide making, and Internet use. The EMRs then took a three-part test performing the skills in the questionnaire. Two independent raters scored the tests. Frequencies with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated for categorical data. Positive and negative predictive values were used to report information comparing residents' performance with their self-assessment of skills. Cohen's kappa was used to test agreement between raters. RESULTS: One hundred twenty-four of 158 (79%) eligible EMRs participated. Since not all participants engaged in all parts of the study, the sample size varies between 121 and 124. One hundred one of 122 (83%; 95% CI = 75 to 89) owned a PC. The EMRs use home PCs a mean of 3.8 hours/week for physician duties and use residency PCs 1.9 hours/week (range 0-20). Ninety-six of 122 (79%; 95% CI = 70 to 86) EMRs reported no formal PC training during residency. Thirty-five percent (43/122; 95% CI = 27 to 44) passed the word-processing test and 50% (62/123; 95% CI = 41 to 60) passed the slide-making test. Reasons for failure were because of errors and not having a presentable product. Thirty-eight of 122 (31%; 95% CI = 23 to 40) failed the literature search, including 33 who said they could perform it. One hundred fifteen of 123 (94%; 95% CI = 88 to 98) EMRs were able to find an Internet address, including ten who stated they could not. Twenty-one percent of the residents who attempted any test (26/124; 95% CI = 14 to 29) passed all three tests. There was no association between year of training and success on the tests (p = 0.374). Thirty-seven of 115 (32%; 95% CI = 24 to 42) EMRs said they had insufficient PC training to meet their physician needs. CONCLUSIONS: Emergency medicine residents have much access to computer technology and possess some computer skills; however, many are unable to produce a usable product or conduct a literature search. Emergency medicine residents have not had sufficient computer training prior to residency. The computer skills of EMRs should be assessed through skills testing rather than self-assessment, and computer training during residency should be improved.

Computer Literacy↗
PubMed2002

Human-computer interaction: psychological aspects of the human use of computing.

Human-computer interaction (HCI) is a multidisciplinary field in which psychology and other social sciences unite with computer science and related technical fields with the goal of making computing systems that are both useful and usable. It is a blend of applied and basic research, both drawing from psychological research and contributing new ideas to it. New technologies continuously challenge HCI researchers with new options, as do the demands of new audiences and uses. A variety of usability methods have been developed that draw upon psychological principles. HCI research has expanded beyond its roots in the cognitive processes of individual users to include social and organizational processes involved in computer usage in real environments as well as the use of computers in collaboration. HCI researchers need to be mindful of the longer-term changes brought about by the use of computing in a variety of venues.

Attitude to Computers↗
PubMed1988

Measurement of intracranial tissue volume using computed tomographic images and a personal computer.

A software package called MacMeasure was developed previously to measure the size of intracellular structures by means of photomicrographs. We have expanded the application of this program to computed tomographic (CT) images. Using three objects of irregular shape and unequal size (phantoms), we compared volumetric determinations made with a CT mainframe computer and a widely available personal computer. The phantom objects were scanned in a GE CT/T 9800 scanner with serial, nonoverlapping slices 3.0 mm in thickness. The image data were first measured directly from the magnetic archive tape with the CT control terminal. Hard copies of the CT scans were then measured with a Macintosh SE computer and a digitizing tablet with a crosshair cursor driven by the MacMeasure software package. A third method of measuring volume was by tracing individual CT images onto paper (hard copies). The tracings were then cut out, weighed, and converted to surface area by dividing the weights by a weight/surface area standard (26.37 mg = 25 cm2) calibrated to the CT image scale (5.0 cm). The total surface area value was then converted to volume by multiplying by a single CT slice thickness (0.3 cm). Finally, the phantom objects were placed in water-filled graduated cylinders to determine their volume by fluid displacement. The technique using MacMeasure and the personal computer provides an accurate means of determining surface area and volumes using hard copies of CT images. It avoids occupying costly CT computer time and is the most rapid method of volume measurement of the three techniques tested (CT mainframe = 6.0 hours, trace/weigh = 3.5 hours, and PC = 1.25 hours).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Brain Neoplasms↗
PubMed1993

Data interface between a radiology information system and a computed radiography system using a personal computer and standard software.

We describe the implementation of a simple data interface between a radiology information system and a computed radiography system that uses personal computers and standard software. The radiology information system was developed in house and runs in a local area network of personal computers. The computed radiography system is connected to a picture archiving and communication system. We have implemented a software data interface on a microcomputer, allowing automated transfer of patient data from the radiology information system program to the computed radiography scheduling program. The interface adds essential information used by the picture archiving and communication system to handle work lists, routing, and archiving algorithms. We have improved the user interface, shortened the scheduling time, enabled coherence of data bases, and eased the use of computed radiography and examination routing in the picture archiving and communication system. We have been using this interface for more than 1 year without difficulties. This custom solution addresses the problem of interconnecting existing equipment, avoiding proprietary restrictions or the lack of effective standards. This approach can be applied to any radiology environment that uses personal computers.

Humans↗
PubMed1964

DIGITAL COMPUTERS IN THE BIOLOGICAL LABORATORY. COMPUTER PROCESSING OF DATA DURING EXPERIMENTS FACILITATES BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH.

The use of digital techniques in the biological laboratory is relatively recent (22). At present, computer equipment is extremely expensive by contrast with conventional electronic equipment. However, the costs are decreasing, and these techniques are rapidly becoming more accessible as well as more powerful. Improvement in the fabrication, size, and compactness of solid-state devices promises rapid progress in computer technology of interest to the biologist. Through the use of integrated circuits it will be possible to make general-purpose computers no larger than a laboratory oscilloscope, as compared with the present desk-size console with auxiliary cabinets. Within a decade the speed of computation will increase by an order of magnitude, and the costs will decrease significantly. Moreover, it seems likely that the parts of a computer and the laboratory "interface" will become available as modular units. An experimenter will then be able to assemble the components necessary for a particular application and change them as required. At present, one has to modify commercial equipment for the nonstandard, biological uses. However, with modular building blocks of relatively small size and more reasonable cost the digital computer may become as familiar a laboratory tool tomorrow as the cathode-ray oscilloscope or the spectrophotometer is today.

Biology↗
PubMed1995

Psychology of computer use: XXXIV. The Computer Hassles Scale: subscales, norms, and reliability.

Data from 1199 students users formed the normative database for the Computer Hassles Scale, a 37-item measuring computer users' stress. The Computer Hassles Scale was scored to yield a severity of hassles score for the total scale and two subscales, Computer Runtime Errors and Computer Information Problems. The total scale and both subscales showed high internal consistency as measured by the Cronbach coefficient alpha. Guidelines for identifying high and low severity of computer users' stress were suggested.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Students can learn medicine with computers. Evaluation of an interactive computer learning package in geriatric medicine.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of a computer-aided learning program on dementia. DESIGN: Fourth year medical students were arbitrarily assigned to groups that used a computer-aided learning program (65) or had a tutorial covering similar material (73). These sessions were in addition to a base curriculum in a two-week course in geriatric medicine. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The effectiveness of the teaching sessions was judged by the performance on a multiple choice questionnaire about dementia, given to the students on two occasions, one at the beginning and one at the end of the two-week course. RESULTS: Both groups of students scored significantly better on the second test (computer group, 66% [95% confidence interval, 64-69] to 81% [79-83] and tutorial group, 66% [63-67] to 74% [73-77]). The difference between the groups at the start of the course was not significant (F1,136 = 0.61, P = 0.61); however, there was a significant difference between the groups at the end of the course (F1,136 = 21.83, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Both groups improved their knowledge of dementia during the two-week course. Students who used the computer-aided learning programs showed a greater improvement in score. Computer learning programs are effective learning tools and are a useful addition to traditional teaching methods. Further study is required to assess the effects of computer-aided learning programs in long-term studies of dementia knowledge.

Computer Literacy↗
PubMed1991

Evaluation of dacryocystorhinostomy failure with computed tomography and computed tomographic dacryocystography.

Five patients with dacryocystorhinostomy failures were examined with computed tomography or computed tomographic dacryocystography. In computed tomographic dacryocystography, radiopaque dye was instilled into the lacrimal sac before computed tomography to show its shape, location, and relation to surrounding structures. Problems with the bony ostium were detected in all five patients. Recurrent nasal polyposis, a retained metallic clip, and an unresected ethmoid air cell were also identified. Computed tomography and computed tomographic dacryocystography provided important information that facilitated reoperation after dacryocystorhinostomy failure.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

"Between me and the computer": increased detection of intimate partner violence using a computer questionnaire.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The emergency department is a problem-focused environment in which routine screening for intimate partner violence (IPV) is difficult. We hypothesized that screening for IPV during computer-based health-risk assessment would be acceptable to patients and improve detection. METHODS: We performed a descriptive study of IPV data collected during a controlled trial of computer-based health promotion in an urban hospital ED. Patients received computer-generated health advice, and physicians received patient risk summaries. Outcomes were patient disclosure and physician documentation of IPV and associated risks. RESULTS: Two hundred forty-eight patients (69% female, 90% black, mean age 39 years) participated in a clinical trial of computer-based health promotion in the ED. Of 170 women, 53 (33%) disclosed emotional abuse, and 25 (15%) disclosed physical abuse. Of 78 men, 22 (29%) disclosed emotional abuse, and 5 (6%) disclosed physical abuse. Patients were also willing to self-report a history or concern of hurting someone close to them. This was true for 21 (14%) women and 15 (22%) men. Controlling for demographic factors, disclosures of victimization and perpetration were associated with multiple psychosocial risks. Computer screening resulted in chart documentation in 19 of 83 potential cases of IPV compared with 1 case documented in the group that received usual care. CONCLUSION: Providing an opportunity for patients to confidentially self-disclose IPV has the potential to supplement current screening efforts and to allow providers to focus on assessment, counseling, and referral for those at risk. However, further measures will be needed to ensure that information gathered through computer screening is adequately addressed during the acute care or follow-up visit.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Computed tomography urography, three-dimensional computed tomography and virtual endoscopy.

Spiral computed tomography technology allows an entire body region to be imaged as a continuous volume of computed tomography data. The acquisition of genitourinary images can be performed at different intervals after intravenous contrast injection in order to characterize the renal vasculature, the renal parenchyma or the collecting system. Computed tomography scanning as contrast is excreted into the collecting system is termed a 'computed tomography urogram'. Volumetric data from spiral computed tomography can be rendered into conventional two-dimensional images or even reformatted into three-dimensional views of organ systems or hollow structures, as in 'fly-through' virtual endoscopy. Although virtual endoscopy of the urinary tract remains in its infancy, three-dimensional imaging is currently a useful adjunct in the evaluation of renal transplant and donor patients and partial nephrectomy candidates. The role of computed tomography urography compared with intravenous urography in the evaluation of hematuria is discussed.

Humans↗
PubMed1989

Adolescent pregnancy prevention by health education computer games: computer-assisted instruction of knowledge and attitudes.

Adolescents enjoy animated-action computer games that capture and hold attention. In this study, the use of computer-assisted instruction in improving knowledge and attitudes in favor of decreased teenage pregnancy is evaluated. Computer-assisted health education is an interactive process and simulates reality. Teenagers explore alternatives and outcomes, and experience consequences of behavioral choices. Two games were designed to promote understanding of the impact and cost of sexual behaviors and parenthood, as well as provide sexual survival skills. Educational evaluation in high schools showed improvements in knowledge and attitudes in these sensitive areas. Test instruments based on the content of each game were developed to assess the impact of the two interventions. Half of the 718 teenagers used the educational programs, and half served as matched control subjects who did not use computer games. Players rated the games highly and evaluated them positively. Measures of 19 factual and psychologic factors associated with pregnancy and parenting were separately made for control and experimental groups. Teenagers who played the games gained knowledge and positive attitude changes to a significantly greater extent than did the comparison group. "The Baby Game!" users increased their knowledge of costs of birth and of costs in money and time of child rearing. "Romance!" users would seek more professional help, had a better understanding of risk of pregnancy, learned more effective means of contraception, and had greater acceptance of oral contraceptives. Teachers and teenagers found the computer games acceptable and fun, and the games reduced counseling time in physician's offices. Computer-assisted instruction is a useful means of providing health education and a promising intervention for adolescent pregnancy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Personal computer word processing for veterinary article writing: personal computers and printers.

Word processing makes the writing and altering of scientific articles faster, easier, and more accurate. Personal computers that are ideally suited to this use are now available. Certain factors must be taken into consideration when a system is selected with word processing in mind. A small business computer or a suitable transportable computer, linked to a printer, provides all the hardware, or machinery, necessary. This, along with a sufficiently powerful word processing program, and all the essential accessories, can be purchased for between $2,300 and $6,000. The editors of all (with one uncertain) 29 clinical veterinary and medical journals surveyed will accept articles written by the dense dot matrix or near-correspondence quality printers that frequently accompany personal computers. The major problem affecting the veterinarian who wishes to purchase a personal computer word processing system is that of spending the time to acquire sufficient information in order to choose the computer and the programs that will be appropriate to his or her requirements. These will include the specialized word processing demands of scientific article writing and many other applications, as appropriate.

Computers↗
PubMed2001

Remote Communication between Charge Centers and Hydrogen-Bonding Sites: Possibility for a Signal Transducer? This work was supported by the National Science Council and Academia Sinica of Taiwan (ROC). The granting of computer time by the National Center for High-Performance Computing and the Computing Center of Academia Sinica is acknowledged. We also thank Ning Juan for her assistance in preparing the manuscript.

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Journal Article↗
PubMed1999

A model of a computer file for the intensive neonatal practice "Neonatal Intensive Computer File".

INTRODUCTION: The use of computer methods for processing the databases gathered in a neonatal intensive care unit has more than 20 years experience. During the past years various systems for data management in accordance with the nature of the work have been designed. AIM: The aim was to create a method for quick and easy processing of variable clinical material in an uniform format. REQUIREMENTS: The method allows the arrangement of the entire primary information into a standardized database suitable for computer processing, following up an unlimited number of parameters, calculating derivative indices, representing and evaluating data by means of graphic trends, surveying current clinical information not only for routine practice, but also for research purposes. RESULTS: We developed a computer file type method. This is a method enabling the systematic and well arranged structuring of the newborn's history, the recordings of the monitoring and life-supporting equipment, the data from clinical, laboratory examinations and all the other implemented diagnostic-therapeutic procedures, family, social and possibly legal background. CONCLUSION: The proposed method Neonatal Intensive Computer File (NICF) was applied successfully in the management the data of the above mentioned project (Grant L-444, MES-Sofia): organizes the entire information into a form suitable for the everyday clinical practice and for research studies. Neonatal Intensive Computer File (NICF) gives ample possibilities for quick and reliable evaluation of the condition of the newborn infant and the effect of the applied treatment. The introduced panel (complex) of indices with possibilities for its expansion allows early detection of advancing and threatening disturbances, characterizes the type and pinpoints the exact time and location of the disturbances occurring in the system ventilator-patient-physician. The graphic trends visualize the variation of the indices and contributes to the quick evaluation and orientation in them. They are considerably more informative than the single time registered values of any indicator or index. Optimizes the management of the applied ventilation/oxygenation technique and overall treatment, facilitates the timely decision-making process (the change and/or the choice of new therapeutic alternatives) Facilitates the statistical analysis of the total accumulated data or a selected part of it. Allows the use of the same clinical material for the needs of multiple research projects guaranteeing precision and reliability. The accumulated databases (information bank) are important for future prospective and retrospective studies not only in the clinical but also in the social field. The information yielded by Neonatal Intensive Computer File (NICF) can be used for prognostic projections and conclusions in terms of the current condition and outcome as well as ad vitam.

Databases, Factual↗
PubMed1991

Three-dimensional reconstruction of temporal bone from computed tomographic scans on a personal computer.

The advantages of computer reconstruction of anatomical structures from computed tomographic scans are common knowledge by now. Unfortunately, to date most reconstructions have required the use of large computers and/or have entailed tedious manual contour tracing. The system described here allows largely automatic detection of surfaces in computed tomographic scans plus the usual display capabilities including feature selection, magnification, rotation, shading, and slicing as well as measurement of lengths and angles. It runs on a normal International Business Machines AT-compatible computer with a medium-resolution video card.

Child↗
PubMed1991

Computer graphics representation of a statistical model used with computer-aided diagnosis.

A description of computer graphics of a multidimensional model that is used with computer-aided diagnosis or prognosis is presented. The model is discussed and computer graphics of the model are developed. The computer graphics are suitable as visual supplements for presenting the computer-aided diagnostic model to individuals who may be inexperienced in multivariate statistics.

Animals↗