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Newsgroups: bit.listserv.medlib-l
Date:         Thu, 31 Dec 1992 09:33:31 -0500
From:         Lou Ann Drusedum <DRUSEDUM@JEFLIN.TJU.EDU>
Subject:      PDQ Update

Hi,

I retrieved the following information from CancerNet
(cancernet@icicb.nci.nih.gov;  cn-400032).  I thought it might be of interest
to the readers of this list.

Happy New Year!

Lou Ann Drusedum
Online Services Coordinator
Scott Library
Thomas Jefferson University
drusedum@jeflin.tju.edu

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 ----------------------------
                (forwarded from CancerNet)

Changes to PDQ Interface and Content (1/93)



Significant changes have taken place in the scope and content of
the PDQ database, which will be reflected in the main menu and
many of the submenus of the NLM version of PDQ.  These new menus
will be in effect on February 1, 1993.


Background
When PDQ first was implemented, the content within the database
focused solely on treatment issues.  The cancer information file,
the majority of the protocols, and the directory files provided
information that would be most helpful in assessing treatment
options for a patient.  The PDQ Editorial Board, which created
and updated the statements in the cancer information file, was
composed almost entirely of physicians active in cancer
treatment.

Over the past several years, PDQ has gradually expanded its focus
to include information on supportive care issues, cancer
screening, and prevention.  Additional Editorial Boards have been
established to write and update information in these new areas,
including the Screening and Prevention Board and the Supportive
Care Board.

New NLM Main Menu
As a result of these many changes and the addition of this new
information to PDQ, the NLM main menu had become outdated, and a
new interface was developed.  The new main menu will be more
straightforward, and will allow users to find appropriate
information after first making a selection for treatment,
supportive care, or screening/prevention.  While the old main
menu had selections for cancer information, physicians,
organizations, and protocols, the new menu will have options for
treatment, supportive care, screening/prevention, protocols, and
directories.


The new main menu will appear as follows:

                   PDQ MENU

The following information is available in PDQ.

1 Information about PDQ     5 Screening
2 PDQ News                  6 Directories
3 Treatment                 7 Protocols
4 Supportive Care           8 CANCERLIT Searches
                   9 Exit PDQ

At any PDQ prompt (>), you may type HELP to obtain assistance
with your PDQ search.

Enter desired number and press CR ("Return" or "Enter" key).
 >


Changes from previous menu
The option for the PDQ Editorial Boards will be available as a
selection under options 1 (information about PDQ) and 6
(directories).  The options for physicians and organizations will
be available under option 6 (directories).

The submenus that will be displayed after selection of each of
the above options are outlined below.

1--Information about PDQ

  INFORMATION ABOUT PDQ

  1 Description of PDQ
  2 Instructions for using PDQ
  3 PDQ Editorial Boards

This menu is enhanced with the addition of option 3, which
displays the PDQ Editorial Boards and their members.  Options 1
and 2 are unchanged.


2--PDQ News

   AVAILABLE PDQ NEWS CATEGORIES ARE:

   1  January Database Update (1/93)
   2  Tamoxifen Breast Cancer Prevention Trial Information
   3  PDQ Database Information
   4  News from the NCI
   5  NCI Drug Information
   6  NCI Clinical Announcements/Updates/Alerts
   7  NLM PDQ Information


This menu is unchanged.


3--Treatment

Look up PDQ cancer treatment summary by cancer type
 1 AIDS-related cancers
 2 breast cancer
 3 childhood cancers
 4 digestive/gastrointestinal cancers
 5 endocrine cancers
 6 eye cancers
 7 germ cell cancers
 8 head and neck cancers
 9 hematologic cancers
10 kidney/urinary cancers
11 musculoskeletal cancers
12 neurologic cancers
13 reproductive system cancers (male and female)
14 skin cancers
15 thorax/respiratory cancers
16 other or unclassified cancers


This menu allows look-up based on cancer type for patient
information statements and state-of-the-art treatment summaries
for health care professionals.  The above submenu may lead to
additional submenus until you reach a diagnosis for which a
statement is available.  This menu replaces the old cancer
information submenu.


4--Supportive care

   Supportive care summaries

  1   Constipation, impaction, and bowel obstruction
  2   Fatigue
  3   Fever, chills, and sweats
  4   Hypercalcemia
  5   Lymphedema
  6   Nausea and vomiting
  7   Nutrition
  8   Oral complications secondary to cancer therapy
  9   Pain
  10  Pruritus
  11  Radiation enteritis
  12  Skin integrity changes secondary to cutaneous metastases
  13  Sleep disorders
  14  Superior vena cava syndrome

This menu allows look-up based on topic for the supportive care
statements.  This menu was previously accessed through the cancer
information option on the main menu.


5--Screening
   Cancer Screening Guidelines

  1   Overview of cancer screening guidelines
  2   Breast cancer screening
  3   Cervical cancer screening
  4   Colorectal cancer screening
  5   Gastric (stomach) cancer screening
  6   Oral cancer screening
  7   Prostate cancer screening
  8   Skin cancer screening
  9   Testicular cancer screening


This menu allows look-up based on topic for the cancer screening
guidelines.  This menu was previously accessed through the cancer
information option on the main menu.


6--Directories

               Directories

1  Physicians
2  Organizations
3  PDQ Editorial Boards

This is a new menu that allows access to the physician and
organization directories and to look-up of the PDQ Editorial
Boards, all of which were previously on the main menu.  Selection
of option 2 will lead to another submenu as follows:

               Organizations

1  Treatment organizations
2  Screening facilities
3  Informational/supportive organizations

Currently, PDQ lists only organizations that treat cancer
patients.  With the February 1993 update, PDQ will add over 3,000
mammography screening facilities accredited by the American
College of Radiology, available under option 2 of the above menu.
Organizations that provide informational and supportive services
to cancer patients, such as the American Cancer Society, will be
available under option 3.


7--Protocols

               Protocols

1  Design of clinical trials
2  Treatment clinical trials
3  Treatment standard protocols
4  Supportive care clinical trials
5  Screening/prevention clinical trials


The above menu will allow you to search for protocols based on
whether they are primarily treatment, supportive care, or
screening/prevention studies.  Option 1 provides information on
the design of clinical trial protocols.  Options 2 and 3 lead to
submenus that are identical to the clinical trial retrieval and
standard protocol retrieval menus currently in PDQ.  Options 4
and 5 will lead to retrieval menus tailored to the type of the
protocol (i.e., supportive care or screening/prevention).

8--Cancerlit Search Strategies

This menu will not change.


All of the help screens in PDQ will be updated with the February
1993 update to include context-sensitive help.  If you need help
understanding the menus, type ? or HELP at any PDQ prompt (>),
and the appropriate help message will be displayed.

                        [eof]
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU