The Research On The Computer-assisted Diagnosis Of Occupational Diseases Expert System

[Objectives] Building the computer-assisted diagnosis of occupational diseases expert system by doing researches is to help agencies and occupational physicians make properly and timely decisions on the diagnosis of occupational diseases, and also help general physicians to identify occupational diseases caused by harmful factors correctly and rapidly. It will reduce and avoid misdiagnosis or wrong treatment of occupational diseases, and improve the level of health care for professional population. Meanwhile, it will promote the application of artificial intelligence technology in the prevention and treatment of occupational diseases.[Methods] In this study, we use a total of ten categories of 115 occupational diseases on the "List of Occupational Diseases" developed by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Security Ministry as research objects. According to "Category of Occupational Hazards" developed by the Ministry of Health, we have established the corresponding relationships among the 126 trades, the appropriate types of work and occupational hazardous factors; at the same time, we have also established the corresponding relationships between the occupational diseases and occupational hazardous factors. Based on the diagnostic criteria of occupational diseases, we have established the discriminant formula for the diagnosis of occupational diseases by a variety of symptoms, signs, laboratory tests and auxiliary examinations. The above information constitutes the knowledge base of the expert system (ES). Using Windows-based operating system as a platform for Sybase Power Buider 11.5 language, we designed expert system software, input module, output module and control module. By means of the data processing of the information in the diagnosis of occupational diseases, the computer programs expression with the occupational experts thought is formed.[Results] In the study, we have established several components, such as a knowledge base, the inference engine, the explanation module, the man-machine interface, the knowledge acquisition module, the system description and system management, etc, for the development of the computer-assisted diagnosis of occupational diseases expert system software. It comes true that if you enter the the information such as trades, types and clinical manifestations of the patients, the system will offer the occupational disease diagnosis, treatment and preventive measures, etc., so it can be used as a secondary diagnosis of clinical systems. Meanwhile, the knowledge engineer can manage the knowledge in the field of occupational disease diagnosis within the system, to update and maintain the professional knowledge. The expert system can diagnose and differential diagnose of all the occupational diseases on the national List of Occupational Diseases. There are 115 kinds of occupational diseases divided into ten categories on the List of Occupational Diseases. So it can be used to assist the diagnosis work of occupational clinicians, it can also help common clinicians to rule out suspected occupational disease. Verified 94 cases of occupational diseases, the system made a decision that 86(91.5%) cases were occupational diseases and the other 8 cases were suspicious. Verified 6 cases of non-occupational diseases, the system made a decision that all of them were excluded from occupational diseases.[Conclusions] As a manner to carry on and spread the knowledge and experience of occupational experts, this expert system can make diagnosis decisions correctly, conveniently, quickly, and efficiently. It will not only help agencies and occupational physicians diagnose correctly in time, but also help non-occupational physicians identify occupational diseases, to reduce and avoid misdiagnosis and wrong treatment.