A METHODOLOGY FOR DETERMINING PATIENTS ELIGIBILITY FOR CLINICAL-TRIALS

The task of determining patients' eligibility for clinical trials is k nowledge and data intensive. In this paper, we present a model for the task of eligibility determination, and describe how a computer system can assist clinical researchers in performing that task. Qualitative and probabilistic approaches to computing and summarizing the eligibil ity status of potentially eligible patients are described. The two app roaches are compared, and a synthesis that draws on the strengths of e ach approach is proposed. The result of applying these techniques to a database of HIV-positive patient cases suggests that computer program s such as the one described can increase the accrual rate of eligible patients into clinical trials. These methods may also be applied to th e task of determining from electronic patient records whether practice guidelines apply in particular clinical situations.