Cooperative decision support for medical diagnosis

Abstract

In this paper, the issue of group-based cooperative decision support is examined. The notion of a group as an essential element for management in a cooperative context is discussed. Viewpoints, or interfaces that are tailored to the requirements of user tasks, are explained, and group viewpoints are introduced. An analysis of what groups participate in the hospital management task is illustrated, and task-specific viewpoints for these groups are established. Examples of two decision dialogues, the first between members of a group, and the second between members of different groups, are presented. First, the environmental elements of cooperative decision-making are established. Then interface elements that are required to support cooperative decision-making are put in place. The phases of a computer-mediated group decision are then outlined. The process of cooperative medical diagnosis is then considered in the light of the theoretical development, and the specific interface of the medical environment is established. Finally, a review of the adequacy of the entire approach is conducted, and a possible implementation platform is considered.