A PRACTICAL EXPERT SYSTEM IN GERIATRIC DIAGNOSIS

WITH THE INCREASING LONGEVITY OF THE U.S. POPULATION, THE PROBLEMS OF DIAGNOSING AND TREATING GERIATRIC DISORDERS ARE BECOMING A MAJOR PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERN. TO SUPPORT THE CLINICIAN IN THE TASK OF GERIATRIC DIAGNOSIS, A PROTOTYPE EXPERT SYSTEM, INTERLOCUTOR, HAS BEEN DEVELOPED. THIS PROJECT WILL CONVERT THIS PROTOTYPE SYSTEM INTO AN APPLICATION PROGRAM. A CONTROLLED TEST WILL BE PERFORMED WITH A GROUP FOR JUNIOR CLINICIANS IN A GERIATRIC OUTPATIENTCLINIC. THE RESULTS ARE INTENDED TO ESTABLISH THE VALIDITY OF THE CONCEPTUAL APPROACH IN THIS FIELD SETTING THROUGH SYSTEMATIC EVALUATION PROTOCOLS. IT IS EXPECTED THAT THIS WORK WILL PROVIDE THE BASIS FOR APPLICATION OF THE INTERLOCUTOR CONCEPT TO OTHER CLASSES OF HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, NOTABLY PARAPROFESSIONALS IN MENTAL HEALTH CARE FACILITIES.