A Computerized Obstetrical Medical Record and Data Base System

Abstract

SummaryOver the last two years we have implemented a rather extensive computer oriented obstetrical medical record and data base system at Leuven University. A total of 404 different items can be coded, covering information mainly on the pregnant women, but also on the husband and newborn(s). The items can be divided into 3 main categories: data collected at the first visit, information gathered at each follow-up examination in the prenatal period and data collected at the time of delivery and during the post-partum period.HP IMAGE-1000 software has been used to construct the data base on an HP minicomputer-system. Twenty six different data sets have been created which are linked with the record number and time as the most important key items. Programs have been written to optimize reliability and speed of data entry and to insure security and recovery of the data. Coding is done by physicians using multiple choice lists and squares preprinted throughout the record.A tool has thereby been created which will be of great help to future clinical research projects.