Archie: the use of a microcomputer in an allergy clinic.

In an attempt to improve the efficiency and quality of allergy history taking we surveyed the practice of 57 allergy clinics in the UK. After studying their methods we developed a computer program based on a relatively inexpensive (pounds 2500) microcomputer system to obtain a detailed history from patients suffering from asthma or rhinitis. The program automatically suggests appropriate allergy tests depending on the answers given to the questions. Details of the history and the results of tests are collated and printed in a form suitable for storing in the patient's records, and are filed on magnetic disk for subsequent analysis. Computer interrogation was accepted and enjoyed by patients.