Abstract
The International Classification of Diseases popularly referred to as 'ICD' has significantly improved accessibility to and promoted distribution of medical Information. In the field of occupational health, the use of a standardized occupational classification system is also necessary for similar reasons. Recording occupational information in a standard format, when routinized, will certainly result in the combining of such information with other health relevant data. However, the innumerable occupational categories prevalent in modern industrialized society cannot be encompassed by a single occupational health staff. The tendency of Japanese people to answer in an indirect manner to questions regarding their present occupation or job history complicates the situation. Because of these circumstances, the need to construct an aiding system to compile bits of vague information into a definite standardized job category was recognized. The computerized system under development focuses especially on a person-to-person interview where the interviewer is required to gather information on the respondant's job history. The system is designed to supplement the insufficient understanding of the entire occupation system, thus aiding in occupational health interviews. A description of a prototype is also given.
