Method and system for health assessment and monitoring

Abstract

The present invention relates to an assessment technique which is conveniently practiced on a computer or over a network. The assessment technique is particularly useful in assessment of health related factors. The invention also relates to a general purpose programmable computer which is provided with instructions for operating according to the assessment technique.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method of assessing the health status of a patient, comprising the steps of:
 generating a customized test having a plurality of questions for said patient in accordance with a health domain to be assessed;   administering said test by providing one question at a time to said patient; and   after each question, evaluating answers provided by said patient to administered questions to estimate a score and a confidence level in the accuracy of said estimated score and dynamically modifying said test if said estimated confidence level is outside a pre-determined threshold.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of generating a report regarding the health status of said patient. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said domain is a condition experienced or perceived by said patient. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of dynamically modifying includes the step of ranking said plurality of questions in accordance with said estimated score; and selecting a question from said plurality of questions based on said ranking that has not been administered to said patient. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the step of selecting comprises selecting a highest rank question. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of dynamically modifying includes the step of terminating said administration of said test if it is determined that said estimated confidence level is within said threshold. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said threshold varies as a function of said estimated score. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of generating selects said questions for said domain from a database having questions and answers pertaining to a plurality of domains. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of administering includes the step of providing a list of possible answers for each question to said patient. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of estimating includes the step of statistically analyzing said answers provided by said patient for errors. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of estimating includes the step of statistically analyzing said answers provided by said patient for consistency. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of estimating includes the step of statistically analyzing said answers provided by said patient for estimating non-responsive answers to said test. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the step of reporting includes the step of comparing said answers provided by said patient with answers provided by other patients in said domain. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of administering includes the step of administering said test to said patients over a network. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the step of generating reports includes the step of generating said report over a network. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said network is one of the following: an Internet, an intranet, a telephone network, and a wireless network. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said domain includes at least one of the following: severity of headaches, level of depression, degree of personal mobility, self-perceived status, effectiveness of a treatment, and general overall health. 
     
     
         18 . A computer based system for assessing the health status of a patient, comprising:
 a test module for generating a customized test having a plurality of questions for a patient in accordance with a health domain to be assessed;   an administration module for administering said test by providing one question at a time to said patient; and   an evaluation module for evaluating, after each question, answers provided by said patient to administered questions to estimate a score and a confidence level in the accuracy of said estimated score; and   wherein said evaluation module is operable to dynamically modify said test if said estimated confidence level is outside a pre-determined threshold.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , further comprising a report module for generating a report regarding the health status of said patient. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein said domain is a condition experienced or perceived by said patient.