Evaluation of TELEDERM for dermatological services in rural and remote areas.

Objective: This paper describes the Web-based decision support system (TELEDERM) that provides medical services to rural and remote general practitioners (GPs), and presents qualitative results on the usefulness and usability of the system obtained from trials in the GoldFields, Western Australia.

Methods: Diagnostic methods and other functions were developed to assist medical practitioners, who may not be familiar with aspects of decision support systems, to diagnose patients with dermatological problems. GPs in rural and remote areas took part in a trial to assess the usefulness of TELEDERM in clinical situations.

Dynamic knowledge validation and verification for CBR teledermatology system.

Objective: Case-based reasoning has been of great importance in the development of many decision support applications. However, relatively little effort has gone into investigating how new knowledge can be validated. Knowledge validation is important in dealing with imperfect data collected over time, because inconsistencies in data do occur and adversely affect the performance of a diagnostic system.

Gronuflex adhesive compression bandage.

Adequate compression bandaging to reduce lower leg venous hypertension by improving the function of the calf muscle pump is the most important aspect of treating ambulatory patients with venous ulceration. Conventional methods of providing compression, such as paste bandages with other outer forms of support, have been used for many years, but are associated with a number of problems. These include the need for more than one bandage as well as being messy in application and removal, which increases nursing time.