Title: Online diagnosis e-health system for all, based on advanced web accessible database technologies

Authors: Paulina Mitrea, Cristina Deak

Addresses: Technical University Cluj-Napoca, Str. Tarnita, No. 7/35, 400659 Cluj-Napoca, Romania. ' Technical University Cluj-Napoca, Str. Fabricii de Zahar, No. 84/33, 400624 Cluj-Napoca, Romania

Abstract: Health literacy is the basic pre-requisite for a well and healthy life. More than 80% of the everyday ailments can be handled by the patients themselves. However, when symptoms appear, it is often difficult for them to make the right decision, whether a health professional has to be seen or self care is still safe. This paper|s objectives are to describe and design a design for all (DFA) principles based web solution for a system that guides the user through a symptom-orientated process of medical history, taking in order to determine a diagnosis. The specific questions and answers are analysed applying a highly sophisticated medical rules-engine. After the analysis, the online medical system (OLMS) presents arguments to the user, which either indicate, that it is still appropriate to self care, or recommend to see a health professional within a defined timeframe. Moreover, OLMS suggests what would be best to do in the user|s specific situation.

Keywords: e-health; e-inclusion; online medical assessment; pre-symptoms; symptom attributes; question catalogues; leading attributes; context parameters; medical symptoms; online diagnosis; electronic healthcare; healthcare technology; self-care; health literacy; design for all; DFA; medical history; medical diagnosis; healthcare recommendations.

DOI: 10.1504/IJKWI.2011.038629

International Journal of Knowledge and Web Intelligence, 2011 Vol.2 No.1, pp.64 - 86

Published online: 07 Mar 2015 *

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