Going to the doctor will be slightly less scary with a new software tool for men currently in the pipeline.
The tool has been announced to coincide with the launch of Men’s Health Week 2012 and it would have a particular focus on prostate diseases, both benign and cancerous.
It would also offer age-related screening tests such as diabetes checks and heart risk analysis.
This is a New Zealand first and a major step forward in improving men’s health, according to general practitioner Dr Prakash.
“Urological problems are an important part that is often ignored. Lack of sleep from prostatism is very rarely addressed, and is accepted by patients as being ’normal’ as you get older, yet treating benign prostate hyperplasia (prostate enlargement) is easy using a user-friendly decision aid,” Dr Appanna said.
Project leader Dr Lannes Johnsons said it was important to make a tool that both doctors and patients could use to avoid unnessersary and possibly harmful investigations in nether regions.
“It will also help doctors and their patients to make the right decisions, at the right time, in regards to testing procedures, as well as provide immediate personalised information for the patient that can be given to them, instead of a generic leaflet about their condition,” Dr Johnson said.
He anticipates beta testing the tool later this year and offering it to New Zealand practices in 2013.
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