Maitra A K, Briggs P J, McGeehan D
Accident and Emergency Department, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England.
Arch Emerg Med. 1988 Jun;5(2):74-8. doi: 10.1136/emj.5.2.74.
The initial accident and emergency and final in-patient diagnoses of 200 patients with acute abdominal pain made without computer aid or structured data sheet were compared. Sixty-five per cent were correctly diagnosed and 5% had normal laparotomies. These results compare favourably with those obtained using computer aid and structured history-taking forms. It is suggested that the spotlight should be on the training and experience of doctors making the initial diagnosis rather than on computer aid.