EVALUATION PROCEDURE IN THE TELEGASTRO PROJECT

The goals of the project TELEGASTRO (telematics technology for harmoni sing and promoting quality in gastroenterology) are to develop via wid e consultation a consensus view through which health care in specific areas of gastroenterology may be measured in a widely agreed, standard ised and reproducible fashion, to develop using appropriate technology a multi-media package by which this information can be disseminated, and to distribute the multi-media package and measure the reaction to it. Within the project three computer disks are created: disc 1, provi ding decision support; disc 2, allowing data collection in the clinics , and disc 3, containing teaching programs. A major aspect of the proj ect is the evaluation procedure. An independent international evaluati on panel, consisting of members from gastroenterology, health care ass essment and technology, has developed a protocol to guide the evaluati on procedure in the TELEGASTRO project. The protocol covers all phases of evaluation, including (a) validation of the knowledge base piece b y piece and as a whole, (b) evaluation of the functionality and usabil ity of the program by laboratory and field testing, and (c) evaluation of the clinical impact in a field trial. The TELEGASTRO project has r un for 2 of its allotted 3 years, and progress to date has been encour aging. Validation of the knowlege base and evaluation of the functiona lity and usability of the system have been completed. The results achi eved so far indicate that the TELEGASTRO program could be a useful too l in supporting good clinical care.