| Sumario: | Expert-based systems commonly refer to the use of computer programs that are based on the input of experts. In the case of expert-based systems described in medicine, the information from which the program is derived comes in a large part from the judgments of clinicians who are judged, by other experts, to be experts. This presentation illustrates our experiences in the use of physical therapist experts in low back care for developing an expert-based system. We were contracted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to help design and conduct studies of the consistency of experts in their administration of a selected set of low back syndrome examination procedures. The output of these studies was to form the basis for standardization of examination procedures. That in turn would be used for the development of normative-based algorithms for classification of patients. The purpose of this presentation is to illustrate some of the issues invloved in the development of an expert-based decision-support system in physical therapy. We start by addressing the questions: What comprises an expert in physical therapy? What are expert-based decision-support systems? and Why have them in physical therapy? Next, we elaborate on necessary conditions for expert judgment. Finally, experiences specific to the expert-based decision-support system in the diagnosis and treatment of low back syndrome will be discussed.
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