- What can the IPCS INTOX V4 System do?
- Is the IPCS INTOX V4 System easy to use?
- How is the IPCS INTOX V4.X System unique?
- Which languages are supported?
- Can IPCS INTOX V4.X be translated into another language?
- Is there a network version available?
- Is there system security?
- What kind of information can the IPCS INTOX V4.X System hold?
- What is harmonised data collection and why is it useful?
- How does IPCS INTOX V4.X help me answer questions coming into my centre?
- What is an authority list?
- Can I customise the standard authority lists?
- Do I have to use all of the fields provided with IPCS INTOX V4.X?
- Can I insert pictures into product and substance records?
- Who can I contact for help?
What can the IPCS INTOX V4 System do?
The system is primarily used to log the details of inquiries to poisons centres about toxic exposures, to track calls, record information on poisons, and generate statistics. Information can be extracted quickly from the database in emergencies, and can also be extensively analyzed for clinical, scientific or administrative purposes. Reports can be produced for any required time interval – daily, weekly, monthly or yearly.
Is the IPCS INTOX V4 System easy to use?
Absolutely! Although the IPCS INTOX V4.X System is a powerful and comprehensive package, it is an intuitive system which is easily learned, usually in less than three days - even for those who have had little to no computer experience.
The manuals are delivered in electronic format with the software. INTOX V4.X development staff are available by fax, email, telephone and web meeting. See Who can I contact for help?
How is the IPCS INTOX V4.X System unique?
Unlike a static commercial database, the IPCS INTOX V4.X System is dynamic, permitting poison centres to store, search and manipulate information supplied and entered directly by the centre itself. Thus, centres may create their own database tailored to their needs.
The INTOX V4.X user interface for case data entry is customisable to a high level. Users can design their own data entry forms, customise authority lists, and create their own data entry fields for those do not already exist in the System. INTOX also allows users to define defaults for most data entry fields, and to specify fields that are required for data entry.
Which languages are supported?
IPCS INTOX V4 is available in Chinese, English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, and Russian. The default language for INTOX is English.
Quick answers to questions can be handled in English and French at CCOHS. Arrangements exist to answer questions in Chinese, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish in a timely fashion.
Can IPCS INTOX V4.X be translated into another language?
It is, in principle, possible to develop other language versions of INTOX V4.x. Poison centres interested in this should approach CCOHS in the first instance to discuss feasibility. The decision to develop a new language version is taken jointly between CCOHS and WHO/IPCS.
Is there a network version available?
Yes, a network version is available. Any network using standard UNC referencing can use the network version of INTOX V4.x.
Yes. Security is available for data entry and supervisory users. The System is accessible through the use of passwords and these determine the level of access that each user has.
What kind of information does the IPCS INTOX V4.X System store?
The IPCS INTOX V4.X System can be used to store comprehensive patient details for human and/or animal poisonings. It can also hold details on chemical and pharmaceutical substances, and natural toxins from plants, fungi, bacteria/viruses and animals . Details of organisations (manufacturers, distributors, importers, hospitals, laboratories and so on) may also be recorded.
What is harmonised data collection and why is it useful?
Harmonised data collection is the collection of data by different poisons centres using an agreed terminology that allows for direct comparison between the centres, even when data is collected in different languages.
IPCS INTOX V4.x provides the means for harmonised data collection, allowing the exchange and sharing of information between users of the system.
How does IPCS INTOX V4.X help me answer questions coming into my centre?
IPCS INTOX V4.x has a number of tools that allow you answer questions quickly. Some centres respond to questions asked by the media or government. The INTOX reporting tools can often answer most questions in a general fashion. You can also create and re-use your own queries for those instances when you are asked for more specific information, such as 'How many exposures to XXX resulted in fatalities since January 1?'
An authority list is an hierarchical selection list used by INTOX that employs controlled, defined vocabulary for the contents of that list. Most authority lists are provided by IPCS INTOX V4.X, and there are a number of authority lists available for customisation by the user.
For example, the Marital Status authority list, with it's definitions, as provided with IPCS INTOX V4.X is shown below:
Marital Status
| First Level | Second Level |
|---|---|
| Single A person who is not currently living with a marital partner |
Never married A person who has never participated in a religious and/or legal union and who does not have a contract which binds them to another person as their husband or wife |
| Separated A person who is currently still married but who is no longer living with their marital partner |
|
| Divorced A person whose marriage has been dissolved by a judicial process or by an accepted custom and who has not married again |
|
| Widowed A person whose marital partner has died and who has not married again |
|
| Married A person who has participated in a religious and/or legal union or has a contract which binds them to another person as their husband or wife, and who is still in that relationship and living with their spouse |
|
| Unknown A person whose marital status is unknown |
Can I customise the standard authority lists?
Absolutely.
Do I have to use all of the fields provided with IPCS INTOX V4.X?
Don't worry - you don't need to use all of the fields provided by IPCS INTOX V4.X. You can design your own data entry forms to meet your specific requirements. If you later determine you want to collect information that isn't on your data entry form, you can go back to edit your data entry form.
Can I insert pictures into product and substance records?
Yes you can. Inserting pictures, or graphics into a substance record is easy. The picture must be opened in a web browser, or a document. You must be able to click on the picture and copy it to the computer's clipboard.
CCOHS, the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, is primarily responsible for the support and distribution of IPCS INTOX.
We can respond to your needs using a variety of methods.
Web meeting:
Send an email to intox@ccohs.ca to schedule a web meeting.
CCOHS email:
intox@ccohs.ca
CCOHS Telephone:
905-572-2981 x 4546 to reach Gale, in Canada
Telephone help is generally available between 8:30 am and 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday,
Eastern Time (GMT -05:00)
CCOHS Fax:
905-572-2206
CCOHS General Mailing:
INTOX Help
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
135 Hunter St E
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
L8N 1M5
IPCS Telephone:
41-22-791-3571 to reach Joanna, in Switzerland
Please contact CCOHS Client Services if you have further questions about these products and services.
