Patient-Computer Dialogue

Abstract

DIALOGUE between doctor and patient is a time-honored process revered by the medical profession. During conversation with his patient the doctor can establish rapport, evaluate his patient's ability to engage in productive discussion, observe his patient's nonverbal behavior and collect historical information of clinical relevance. In addition, he can dispense useful information and attempt psychotherapy. Verbal communication is perhaps more central to psychotherapy than to any other aspect of medicine. Yet doctors as interviewers are busy, expensive and sometimes hard to find. It seems reasonable, therefore, to look for substitutes that will serve at least some of the purposes of . . .