DIAGNOSIS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT

1.1 Statement of the Problem

The following identified problems necessitated this study:

1. Diagnosis is solely based on the physical examination by medical experts.
2. Delay in seeing medical experts for diagnosis and prescription.
3. Absence of computer based tools to manage medical information of diagnosis.

1.2 Aim and Objectives of the Study

The aim of the study is to develop a diagnosis management system with the following objectives:

1. To design a system that can aid the registration of diagnosis information to database for future use of diagnosis of patients.
2. To implement a system that will facilitate the provision of prescriptions based on disease diagnosed.
3. To design a system that can be used to obtain reports of patients' diagnosis information.

1.3 Significance of the Study

The study is significant in the following ways:

1. It will provide an avenue to diagnose patients in the case of the absence of medical experts.
2. It will reduce the workload of medical experts.
3. It will enable easy access to diagnosis information of patients
4. The study will be useful to other researchers seeking similar information.

1.4 Scope of the Study

This study covers diagnosis management system development, using cottage hospital Ikot Ekpene as a case study. It is limited to the development of a database application that can be used to register medical knowledge of corresponding symptoms, disease and prescription to database for use in diagnosing patients. All data for the study were collected from cottage Hospital, Ikot Ekpene.

1.5 Organization of the Research

This research work is organized into five chapters. Chapter one is concerned with the introduction of the research study and it presents the preliminaries, theoretical background, statement of the problem, aim and objectives of the study, significance of the study, scope of the study, organization of the research and definition of terms.

Chapter two focuses on the literature review. The contributions of other scholars on the subject matter are discussed.

Chapter three is concerned with the system analysis and design. It presents the research methodology used in the development of the system. It analyzes the present system to identify the problems and provides information on the advantages and disadvantages of the proposed system. The system design is also presented in this chapter.

Chapter four presents the system implementation and documentation, the system design, choice of programming language, analysis of modules, programming environment and system implementation.

Chapter five focuses on the summary, constraints of the study, conclusion and recommendations which are provided in this chapter based on the study carried out.

1.6  Definition of Terms

Artificial Intelligence: The branch of computer science dealing with the mimicking of human-level intelligence in computer programs they are also known as expert systems.

Diagnosis: The identification of the nature and cause of illness

Prescription: A written order, as by physician, for the administration of a medicine or other intervention

Patient:  A person who receives treatment from a doctor or medically educated person.

Therapy: Treatment of disease or disability