Simplified computer-aided diagnosis of acute abdominal pain.

A simplified version of a system for computer-aided diagnosis of acute abdominal pain has been tested by "new" personnel unfamiliar with the previous system. After a two-month learning period the system proved more accurate in its diagnoses than the unaided clinician, and during the first five months of using the system the unaided clinicians' accuracy rose from 73% to 84%. When computer "feedback" was withdrawn the clinicians' diagnostic accuracy reverted towards the previous, "unaided" level. These findings further validate the concept of the computer as a potentially valuable diagnostic aid but indicate that a training period and computer feedback are important factors in its 4 use.