Evaluation of a diagnostic tool prototype for primary care (V1)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Evaluation of a prototype for a computerised diagnostic support tool for primary care
IRAS ID
158741
Contact name
Olga Kostopoulou
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College London
Research summary
The research aim is to investigate how a diagnostic tool that integrates with the electronic health records (EHR) can influence primary care consultations.
Although it is generally accepted that diagnosis can be improved through decision support, there is no agreement on how best to do it. In an experimental study recently completed, we found that ‘early support’ (i.e., presenting GPs with differential diagnoses to consider early on in the clinical encounter, before they start gathering further information) significantly improved diagnostic accuracy over control. Following this study, we developed a prototype for a diagnostic support tool for primary care. The prototype will be integrated with the GPs' electronic health records (EHR) system. For the evaluation study, we have arranged to integrate the prototype with Vision (http://www.inps4.co.uk/vision), a commercial EHR system.The prototype is triggered by the GP entering the reason for encounter. The GP is then presented with a list of relevant differential diagnoses, ranked according to likelihood. This list is automatically updated as the GP gathers and enters information (symptoms, signs, investigations) into the EHR.
In the evaluation study, 32 GPs from London will perform a ‘simulated surgery’, where they will consult with a number of ‘standardised’ patients (actors), with and without the prototype but always with their usual EHR system. No previous study has evaluated a diagnostic tool that is seamlessly integrated with a commercial EHR.
Study participants will be GPs in London, who use Vision electronic health records system. The study is part of TRANSFoRm (www.transformproject.eu), which is funded by the European Commission.
REC name
HSC REC B
REC reference
14/NI/1043
Date of REC Opinion
17 Jul 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion