Reference: Tu, S. W.; Kemper, C. A.; Lane, N. M.; Carlson, R. W.; & Musen, M. A. A Methodology for Determining Patients' Eligibility for Clinical Trials. November, 1992.
Abstract: The task of determining patients' eligibility for clinical trials is knowledge and data intensive. In this paper, we present a model for the task of eligibility determination, and describe how a computer system can assist clinical researchers in performing that task. We describe qualitative and probabilistic approaches to computing and summarizing the eligibility status of potentially eligible patients. We compare the two approaches, and propose a synthesis that draws on the strength of each approach. The result of applying these techniques to a database of HIV-positive patient cases suggests that computer programs such as ours can increase the accrual rate of eligible patients into clinical trials. These methods also may be applied to the task of determining from electronic patient records whether practice guidelines apply in particular clinical situations.
Notes: Updated August '93.
Full paper available as ps.