Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Computers”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,531 records · Page 85Linked to original sources
PubMed1976

Use of a computer to detect and respond to clinical events: its effect on clinician behavior.

A computer was used to prospectively detect and suggest responses to simple, medication-related events as reflected in a computerized record in a prospective, randomized study of a diabetes clinic with primary-care responsibility. There were two categories of event/suggestions: when the last observation of a test required for medication control was too old, the computer suggested a repeat; and when an abnormality with therapeutic implications was detected, the computer suggested a specific change in therapeutics. Clinicians responded to 36% of events in the first category with computer reminders and 11% without (P less than 0.0001); they responded to 28% of events in the second category with computer assistance and 13% without (P less than 0.026). For the most clinically significant of these second category events, the difference was even greater: 47% with and 4% without computer assistance (P less than 0.0004). I believe that computer detection and response (in the form of reminders) to simple clinical events will change clinician behavior.

Clinical Competence↗
PubMed1976

Computer classification of ST and T in averaged ECGs at rest and exercise.

A computer program for ST and T classification at rest and exercise is described. The automatic ST classification was based on the modification of the Minnesota code suggested by Punsar et al. The T wave classification was based on the Minnesota code of 1968. Recordings at rest, during and after exercise from 217 exercise tests were visually classified by two observers, and their result was compared to the computer's. Computer-observer comparisons yielded no more disagreements than between-observer comparisons. There were computer-observer disagreements caused by computer errors in 3% of the records. The repeatability of the computer's ST classification on records taken during exercise was better than that of one visual observer. Within-computer and within-observer repeatability appeared to be negatively affected by remaining noise in the average.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Model for personal computer system selection.

Successful computer software and hardware selection is best accomplished by following an organized approach such as the one described in this article. The first step is to decide what you want to be able to do with the computer. Secondly, select software that is user friendly, well documented, bug free, and that does what you want done. Next, you select the computer, printer and other needed equipment from the group of machines on which the software will run. Key factors here are reliability and compatibility with other microcomputers in your facility. Lastly, you select a reliable vendor who will provide good, dependable service in a reasonable time. The ability to correctly select computer software and hardware is a key skill needed by medical record professionals today and in the future. Professionals can make quality computer decisions by selecting software and systems that are compatible with other computers in their facility, allow for future net-working, ease of use, and adaptability for expansion as new applications are identified. The key to success is to not only provide for your present needs, but to be prepared for future rapid expansion and change in your computer usage as technology and your skills grow.

Computers↗
PubMed1999

Computer-based teaching of pathology at the Zagreb University School of Medicine.

AIM: To review the experience gained in transferring USA computer-based teaching system of medical school pathology to Croatia. METHODS: Computer-based teaching program of pathology developed at the University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, Kansas, USA, was transferred to the University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia. The experimental group of 49 students was enrolled into this computer-based program. Their performance was compared with that of 195 classmates enrolled in the standard course. Objective (performance on the examinations) and subjective data (students' interviews and written evaluations of the course) were analyzed. RESULTS: The computer program was operational 5 months from the inception of the transfer. It was well received by the students, even though many initially complained that it required more effort and a continuous commitment. The major problems concerned scheduling, reflecting various requirements i mposed on students by other departments teaching in parallel with the Pathology course. Objective data gathered so far indicate that the students enrolled in the computer-based program took the first midterm examination at a significantly higher rate than the rest of the class (p<0.001), and passed the examination with significantly better grades (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Computer-based teaching programs can be readily transferred to other countries. Full implementation of the program, however, may require significant changes in the existing curriculum in the medical school to which such a program has been transferred or considerable modifications in the program adopted for transfer. It appears that the students enrolled in the computer-based program perform better than students in the standard pathology course.

Attitude↗
PubMed1999

[Computer-based interpretation of ECG--guiding or misleading?].

Computerised ECG diagnostic programs occasionally provide erratic diagnoses, and false diagnostic suggestions may mislead the physician. We wanted to investigate whether a diagnostic computer program guides or misleads the ECG interpretation in the emergency room. A panel of 20 first-line physicians from the Medical Department at Ullevål Hospital, Oslo, Norway each described sets of ten ECGs, composed from a selection of ten excellent and ten wrong computer interpretations, randomly with or without the print-out of this diagnosis. The presence of correct computer diagnosis resulted in 58% correct conclusions by the physicians, against 30% in the absence of the computers conclusions (p < 0.005). Whether an incorrect computer diagnosis was provided or not, did not significantly influence the physicians' conclusions. Among the physicians, the best performing third benefitted most from the presence of a good computer interpretation, whereas the poor performers did not even recognise the help provided. Computer-based ECG diagnoses seem to be helpful to emergency ward physicians, but a certain level of ECG experience is required to utilise the program.

Arrhythmias, Cardiac↗
PubMed1999

The experiences of one divisional group of GPs in introducing computers into clinical practice.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the experiences of GPs who have introduced computers into their practices, particularly for clinical use. METHODS: GPs who have introduced computers into their practice for clinical use were identified by a telephone survey of the membership of the Monash Division, Melbourne, Victoria. Eleven 'clinical users' participated in semi-structured interviews to elucidate their experiences of installing computers in their consulting rooms, including their beliefs on how this process could have been given more support. RESULTS: Sixty-two of 67 practices participated in the initial telephone survey. Sixteen percent of responding practices were using computers for clinical purposes, with 11% issuing computerised prescriptions. Interviews with clinical users revealed that most had learned about computer hardware and software through their own independent enquiries. However, the GPs believed that divisions have an increasing role in providing training, education, and offering independent advice about the purchase of appropriate computer systems. DISCUSSION: This group of GPs adopted computers for clinical purposes without much assistance from the medical profession. Their experience of the process of computerisation illustrated that lack of training posed problems as did lack of support. Half of the sample felt that divisions may be able to provide training and education, independent advice and act as a forum to discuss and develop ideas, and thus ease some of the problems associated with adopting new technologies. CONCLUSION: Several suggestions are made for GPs and divisions to assist in the process of computerisation.

Australia↗
PubMed2000

The use of instant medical history in a rural clinic. Case study of the use of computers in an Arkansas physician's office.

This study evaluated the acceptance of using computers to take a medical history by rural Arkansas patients. Sex, age, race, education, previous computer experience and owning a computer were used as variables. Patients were asked a series of questions to rate their comfort level with using a computer to take their medical history. Comfort ratings ranged from 30 to 45, with a mean of 36.8 (SEM = 0.67). Neither sex, race, age, education, owning a personal computer, nor prior computer experience had a significant effect on the comfort rating. This study helps alleviate one of the concerns--patient acceptance--about the increasing use of computers in practicing medicine.

Arkansas↗
PubMed2002

Predictive value of conventional computed tomography in determining proximal extent of abdominal aortic aneurysms and possibility of infrarenal clamping.

The present study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic reliability of computed tomography in determining the proximal extent of abdominal aortic aneurysms and the possibility of infrarenal clamping. Preoperative computed tomographic findings, together with the operative data for 95 patients, were retrospectively analyzed in light of the operative findings. Eighty-nine (93.68%) of the patients were men and 6 (6.32%) were women, with a mean age of 66.27 +/- 18.14 years. Diagnosis of infrarenal aneurysm by computed tomography was confirmed at the time of surgery in 91 (95.79%) of 95patients. The negative-predictive value of computed tomography in detecting supra-aneurysmal renal arteries was found to be 95.79%. The specificity was 98.91%. Infrarenal cross-clamping was performed in 59 (62.11%) of 95 patients, whose aortic segments between the renal artery orifices and the proximal borders of the aneurysms had a mean length of 26.4 +/- 7.11 mm by computed tomography Suprarenal clamping was required in 36 (37.89%) of the 95 patients, whose aortic segments had a mean length of 12.7 +/- 3.48 mm. We conclude that conventional computed tomography is reasonably accurate in determining the proximal extent of abdominal aortic aneurysms. Although there is a high rate of error in determining the possibility of infrarenal clamping when no specific measurements are taken, infrarenal clamping can be planned when measurement by computed tomography shows a length of > or = 26 mm between the renal arteries and the proximal extent of the aneurysm. In patients with shorter aortic segments, suprarenal aortic clamping should be considered.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

SCUT: clinical data organization for physicians using pen computers.

The role of computers in assisting physicians with patient care is rapidly advancing. One of the significant obstacles to efficient use of computers in patient care has been the unavailability of reasonably configured portable computers. Lightweight portable computers are becoming more attractive as physician data-management devices, but still pose a significant problem with bedside use. The advent of computers designed to accept input from a pen and having no keyboard present a usable computer platform to enable physicians to perform clinical computing at the bedside. This paper describes a prototype system to maintain an electronic "scut" sheet. SCUT makes use of pen-input and background rule checking to enhance patient care. GO Corporation's PenPoint Operating System is used to implement the SCUT project.

Handwriting↗
PubMed2005

Croatian implementation of a computer-based teaching program from the University of Kansas, USA.

AIM: To determine whether the students enrolled in the computer-based teaching program would take the final examination in pathology earlier than those who studied according to the previous traditional program. METHODS: The study included all medical students enrolled in the pathology course at the Zagreb University School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia, between 1995/96 and 2000/01 academic years. In the fall of 1998, computer-based teaching program from the University of Kansas was implemented at the Zagreb University School of Medicine, with 48 of the class of 225 students (20%) randomly enrolled in the program. The remaining 80% of students of the same class were enrolled in the traditional teaching program used at the Zagreb University School of Medicine. We compared the success of these two groups of students at the final pathology examination in the first term. Following this initial observational period, all students in the next two years (1999/00 and 2000/01), were enrolled in the computer-based teaching program. Pass rates of these students at the final examination taken in the first term were compared with the pass rates of students who studied according to the traditional teaching program during the period from 1995 to 1998. RESULTS: In 1998, 58.3% of students from the computer-based teaching program group chose to take the final examination in the first term, compared with only 32.2% of students from the traditional teaching program group (chi(2) (1)=10.97, P<0.001). Students in the computer based program had better final examination mean scores (-/+ standard deviation) than students in the traditional program (81.9-/+9.8 and 73.3-/+14.2, respectively; t=2.908, P=0.005). Upon the implementation of the computer-based teaching program for the entire class in 1999 and 2000, the number of students taking the final examination in the first term increased more than we expected on the basis of the data from the academic years 1995 to 1998 (chi(2) (5)=39.60, P<0.001). CONCLUSION: The computer-based program introduced at the Zagreb University School of Medicine in 1998 had a positive effect on medical students, as evidenced by the fact that more students chose to take the final pathology examination in the first term and more of them passed the examination in the first attempt than those in the traditional teaching program.

Computer-Assisted Instruction↗
PubMed2005

[Computer-navigated surgery].

Computer-navigated surgery Computer-navigated surgery has become very popular in the recent years. It provides "the third dimension" to CT scans and endoscopic images. This technique enables the surgeon to reach given structures in the operation field using instruments and to visualise their location on CT scans acquired earlier by the computer and presented on the screen. Computer-navigated surgery facilitates the visualisation of instruments position in relation to anatomical structures in three projections. Because of the simultaneous presentation of the scans and the endoscopic picture on one screen, enormous comfort is granted to both the surgeon and the patient who can feel safe. The analysis of images reveals further information, which enhance the safety and lead to more effective procedures with diminished complications. The surgeon's assurance that the instruments are in the desired position, even in the anatomically complex structures, is the most impressive advantage of this technique. Computer-navigated surgery can be of great benefit in endoscopic surgery teaching programs. However, it cannot become a substitute of an adequate knowledge or replace proper education about anatomy of operated organs. The authors present the review of systems for computer-navigated surgery. They also describe their own experience based on endoscopic surgery of ethmoid and maxillary sinuses carried out with the use of computer navigation.

Endoscopy↗
PubMed2006

Computer animation and improved student comprehension of basic science concepts.

Many medical students have difficulty learning basic science, either because they find the material challenging to comprehend or because they believe it has limited clinical application. Computer-assisted instruction (CAI)--ie, computer animation--can clarify instruction by allowing students to visualize complex, dynamic processes in an interesting presentation. At West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM) in Lewisburg, a series of computer animations have been developed to present concepts in molecular and cellular biology. The author conducted an investigation to compare the efficacy of one representative computer animation with that of traditional textbook material. The subjects were 22 students who had been admitted to WVSOM but who had not yet begun classes. The experimental design of the study consisted of a prelesson test, a lesson, and a postlesson test. The lesson explained the process of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) replication using either a computer animation (n=12) or a chapter from a textbook (n=10). Lesson comprehension as measured by the tests was significantly higher for subjects who used the computer animation than for subjects who used the textbook (P<.01). Furthermore, reviewing the text after studying with the computer animation did not raise test scores, suggesting that the animation was sufficient for learning and the text was unnecessary. After the study, a majority of subjects indicated a preference for the animation over the text. These results demonstrate that CAI can be an effective tool for relating basic science to medical students by improving comprehension and eliciting interest in the lessons.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Computer literacy: Where are nurse educators on the continuum?

Computers are becoming ubiquitous in health and education, and it is expected that nurses from undergraduate nursing programmes are computer literate when they enter the workforce. Similarly nurse educators are expected to be computer literate to model the use of information technology in their workplace. They are expected to use email for communication and a range of computer applications for presentation of course materials and reports. Additionally, as more courses are delivered in flexible mode, educators require more comprehensive computing skills, including confidence and competence in a range of applications. A cohort of nurse educators from one tertiary institution was surveyed to assess their perceived computer literacy and how they attained this. A questionnaire that covered seven domains of computer literacy was used to assess this. The results were illuminating and identified specific training needs for this group. Their perceived lack of skill with Groupwise email and the student database program are of concern as these are essential tools for nurse educators at this polytechnic.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Computer-based program for identifying medication orders requiring dosage modification based on renal function.

A computer-based program that enables staff pharmacists to quickly review medication orders written for renally impaired patients is described. Medication orders requiring dosage modification based on the renal function of the patients for whom they were written were being identified by a medical staff-approved pharmacist intervention program. However, staff pharmacists were unable to assess the orders easily and rapidly because of a lack of readily available patient data. In response, a computer-based intervention program was developed. Specific dosage guidelines for renally eliminated drugs in patients with renal dysfunction were entered into the pharmacy computer. An interface with the laboratory computer enables the pharmacy computer to access creatinine concentration or clearance values, perform calculations if necessary, and alert pharmacists to specific drug orders that may require modification. Such medication orders are flagged by the pharmacy computer during order entry. When a staff pharmacist judges that intervention is needed, he or she telephones the ordering physician or sends a note to the patient's nursing station. Over a two-month period, 1485 orders were identified as being potentially inappropriate. Physicians were contacted about 191 of the flagged orders, and they accepted the pharmacist's recommendation for 141 (74%) of these orders. The interventions resulted in a drug acquisition cost saving of $7082 over the two-month period. A computer-based program enabled staff pharmacists to easily and rapidly identify orders for renally eliminated agents that required modification, reduced the risk of adverse reactions, trimmed costs, and promoted the clinical dimension of pharmacy practice.

Clinical Pharmacy Information Systems↗
PubMed1990

Computer-assisted adult medical diagnosis: subject review and evaluation of a new microcomputer-based system.

Three decades after the conceptual foundation was laid for computer-aided diagnosis, some of its potential has been realized. Systems based on probabilistic reasoning have been developed and applied within limited domains (e.g., acute abdominal pain) and for the general diagnosis of systemic disorders. Less progress has been made in the development and application of diagnostic systems based on "artificial intelligence", reflecting theoretical limits to this application of computers to medicine and the enormity of the task. The presently available probabilistic systems have recently been joined by a new microcomputer-based system, MEDITEL Computer-Assisted Diagnosis, Adult System. The performance of this system was evaluated with both clinical-pathologic conference cases and consecutive admissions with undiagnosed illnesses. The correct diagnosis appeared on the list generated by the system in 80 to 90% of the cases. Experience with this and other systems illustrates current issues in the evaluation of computer systems for aid in diagnosis and of computer-based medical "expert" systems in general. These issues include physician acceptance of these systems and the ethical, legal, and regulatory aspects of computer system application. We conclude that, in appropriately selected cases, the accuracy and efficiency of physician diagnosis can be enhanced with computer assistance, and the risk of overlooking the correct diagnosis can be reduced.

Artificial Intelligence↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Computer-assisted teaching in medical education--development of methods and supplemental materials].

A review of the elementary types of materials for the computer assisted learning (CAI--Computer Assisted Instruction) is given in this paper. It shows our initial experiences in creating the computer educational materials of the patient management simulation type, destinated for the primary care physicians. A computer simulation program "First Aid in Traffic Accident" is described as an example. A typical structure of these materials is shown. The materials had been developed using the own authoring system, a computer program which enables the teachers and other experts to create the computer educational materials independently, with the minimal help of the professional computer experts.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1990

AANA Journal course. 10. AANA Journal course: new technologies in anesthesia: update for nurse anesthetists--integrating computer capabilities into the clinical setting.

Clinicians routinely use computer-integrated anesthesia equipment. Clinical application of computers is widespread and, with rapidly advancing computer technology, the availability of computer-integrated equipment is likely to expand. By being able to identify the general functional components of the computer and understanding some of the basics about how a computer functions, the clinician will be better prepared to decide which types of monitors and computer-integrated technologies will most appropriately fit individual needs.

Anesthesiology↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Computers in nursing practice. A comparison of the attitudes of nurses and nursing students.

This study was undertaken to compare the attitudes of nurses and nursing students toward computer use in nursing practice and to clarify factors that influence these attitudes. Three factors within the student sample were examined: changes over time, prior experience with computers, and attitudes toward technology in general. Second, the attitudes of the nursing students were compared with those of a sample of practicing nurses. Finally, the multidimensional structure of Stronge's attitude scale was analyzed. A total of 353 sophomore nursing students and 358 staff nurses participated in the study. The analysis produced a refined 17-item attitude scale composed of three identifiable subscales: computers and patient care, computers and personal security, and general attitude. It was found that students had less experience with computers than the investigators had anticipated, and there was little change over three successive cohorts of students. However, in general, students' attitudes toward computer use in nursing were positive, and the more computer experience students had, the more positive their attitudes. The attitudes of the practicing nurses also were generally positive, but differences between students and nurses were observed.

Attitude to Computers↗