TY - JOUR T1 - Implementation of a computer-guided consultation in the assessment of suspected obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome JF - ERJ Open Research JO - erjor DO - 10.1183/23120541.00362-2019 VL - 6 IS - 3 SP - 00362-2019 AU - Biswajit Chakrabarti AU - Nadia Lewis-Burke AU - Mike Pearson AU - Sonya Craig AU - Lisa Davies AU - Kim Sheridan AU - Philip England AU - Eddie McKnight AU - Robert Angus Y1 - 2020/07/01 UR - http://openres.ersjournals.com/content/6/3/00362-2019.abstract N2 - Background We describe implementation of a clinical decision support system, a computer-guided consultation (CGC), in the assessment of subjects referred with suspected obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS).Methods Two cohorts of patients were assessed. The first 100 cases had data collected with the CGC by a specialist sleep physician (stage1). A further 100 cases were assessed by a nonspecialist using the CGC (stage 2). For each case, the diagnosis suggested by the CGC was compared with the final diagnosis made by a second specialist sleep physician blinded to the CGC diagnosis.Results Stage 1: of 100 people evaluated, a final diagnosis of OSAS was made by both the sleep specialist and CGC in 88% of cases. In 7 of the remaining 12 cases, both agreed there was “No evidence of OSAS”; in 5 cases the CGC did not reach a final diagnosis instead prompting specialist referral. Stage 2: 100 people were evaluated; 95% were evaluable. Both CGC and the sleep specialist made a diagnosis of OSAS in 83 cases (87%), in 5 cases both agreed there was no OSAS, whereas in 7 cases the CGC prompted a specialist review due to unexplained symptoms. The CGC was concordant with the final diagnosis in 95% and 93% of cases in the two cohorts, respectively and where there was doubt, prompted for clinical review. No OSAS cases were overlooked by the CGC.Conclusion An intelligent CGC program creates opportunities in sleep medicine management pathways to safely yet effectively utilise nonspecialists working under specialist supervision.A clinical decision support system may be used safely to assess subjects with suspected obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome when used by specialists and nonspecialists alike https://bit.ly/2AFPD0r ER -