Understanding Terminological Systems I: Terminology and Typology

Abstract:

Terminological systems are an important research issue within the field of medical informatics. For precise understanding of existing terminological systems a referential framework is needed that provides a uniform terminology and typology of terminological systems themselves. In this article a uniform terminology is described by putting relevant fundamental notions and definitions used by standard organizations such as CEN and ISO into perspective, and interrelating them to arrive at a useful typology of terminological systems. This typology is illustrated by applying it to five well-known existing terminological systems.

Keywords:

Terminology - Typology - Terminological Systems - Standards

• REFERENCES

• 1 Moorman P, van Ginneken A, van der Lei J, van Bemmel JH. A model for structured data entry based on explicit descriptional knowledge. Yearbook of Medical Informatics. 1995: 195-204.
• 2 De Keizer N, Abu-Hanna A, Cornet R, Zwetsloot-Schonk J, Stoutenbeek C. Analysis and Design of an Ontology for intensive care diagnoses. Method Inform Med 1999; 38: 102-12.
• 3 Coding Methods and principles. ISO. 1989
• 4 Terminology vocabulary. ISO. 1990
• 5 European prestandard.. Medical informatics – Categorical structures of systems of concepts – Model for representation of semantics. Brussel: CEN; 1997
• 6 De Keizer N, Abu-Hanna A. A framework for understanding Terminological Systems. Amsterdam: Academic Medical Center, Department of Medical Informatics; 1999
• 7 De Keizer N, Abu-Hanna A. Understanding terminological systems II: Experience with conceptual and formal representation of structure. Method Inform Med 2000; 39: 22-9.
• 8 Campbell K, Oliver D, Spackman K, Short-liffe K. Representing Thoughts, Words, and Things in the UMLS. J Am Med Inform Assoc 1998; 5: 421-31.
• 9 Hirs W. Standaardclassificaties voor medische en niet-medische gegevens. Groningen: Rijksuniversiteit Groningen; 1987: 141 p.
• 10 Gruber T. Towards principles for the design of ontologies used for knowledge sharing. Int J Hum-Comput Stud 1995; 43: 907-28.
• 11 International Classification of Diseases, manual of the International Statistical Classification of diseases, injuries and causes of death: 9th revision. WHO. 1977
• 12 International Classification of Diseases, manual of the International Statistical Classification of diseases, injuries and causes of death: 10th revision. WHO. 1993
• 13 Read J, Sanderson H, Drennan Y. Terming, coding and grouping. In: Greenes R. ed. Medinfo 95. 1995: 56-9.
• 14 Schulz E, Price C, Brown P. Symbolic Anatomic Knowledge Representation in the Read Codes Version 3: Structure and Application. J Am Med Inform Assoc 1997; 4: 38-48.
• 15 Rothwell D. SNOMED-Based knowledge representation. Method Inform Med 1995; 34: 209-13.
• 16 Rothwell D, Coté R. Managing Information with SNOMED: Understanding the model. SCAMC. 1996: 80-3.
• 17 Spackman K, Campbell K. Compositional concept representation using SNOMED: towards further convergence of clinical terminologies. J Am Med Inform Assoc Annual Symposium. 1998: 740-4.
• 18 Lindberg D, Humphreys B, Mc Cray A. The Unified Medical Language System. Method Inform Med 1993; 34: 281-91.
• 19 Rector A, Solomon W, Nowlan W, Rush T, Zanstra P, Claassen W. A Terminology Server for medical language and medical information systems. Method Inform Med 1995; 34: 147-57.
• 20 Rector A, Glowinski A, Nowlan W, Rossi-Mori A. Medical-concept models and medical records: an approach based on GALEN and PEN&PAD. J Am Med Inform Assoc 1995; 2: 19-35.
• 21 Rector A, Bechhofer S, Goble C, Horrocks I, Nowlan W, Solomon W. The Grail concept modelling language for medical terminology. Artif Intell 1997; 9: 139-71.