Jump to comment:
- Page navigation anchor for Patients could provide initial differentialPatients could provide initial differentialThis is very interesting study which also highlights the potential value of patients using symptom checkers and handing the results to their doctor at the start of the consultation. This would get over the current technical challenges of a system automatically producing a differential from more complex cases with multiple symptoms. The study refers to a ‘naturalistic trial of Isabel’ that showed junior paediatricians only sought advice ‘around 2% of the time’.This study was carried out over 10 years ago in NHS hospitals where access to desktop computers then was very poor and the use of mobile devices to access the Internet was almost non-existent. This partly explains the low rate but the more significant issue is down to the standards set by the senior clinicians. In hospitals where Isabel is used, easily available and actively encouraged by senior clinicians setting a standard we have found that it is accessed in about 10% of cases. CDSS can only be a means to help clinicians practise to a standard.The study is based on three cases all with just one clinical feature that made it technically easier to generate a differential. In reality, many cases would have multiple clinical features that would necessitate a CDSS (such as Isabel) that could handle complex free text queries.The study showed significantly less improvement when the CDSS was pro...Show MoreCompeting Interests: Founder of Isabel Healthcare