KNOWLEDGE-BASED LIPID MANAGEMENT-SYSTEM FOR GENERAL-PRACTITIONERS

The aim of this system is to provide computer generated interpretative reports with management advice for General Practitioners (GPs). The l ipid domain was chosen because of its importance in preventive medicin e. Request forms to elicit extra clinical information were designed an d distributed to a group of randomly selected GPs. Interpretation of l aboratory and clinical data categorises patients according to risk of coronary heart disease. The management system is rule based and provid es advice on lifestyle modifications, diet and drug intervention. Prev ious clinical and laboratory results are taken into account in determi ning a management strategy. To date 435 request forms have been proces sed; 309 (71%) from first visits and 126 (29%) from follow-up visits. Normal lipid profiles were found in 19% of cases. There was 93% agreem ent between management advice given by the system and the expert. The system has now been modified and further evaluation is under way.