This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Hardiker, N. R. Articles by Rector, A. L. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Hardiker, N. R. Articles by Rector, A. L.

Modeling Nursing Terminology Using the GRAIL Representation Language

Affiliation of the authors: Medical Informatics Group, Department of Computer Science, University of Manchester, Manchester, England.

Correspondence and reprints: Nicholas R. Hardiker, RGN, MSc, Medical Informatics Group, Department of Computer Science, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK. e-mail: <hardiker{at}cs.man.ac.uk>.

Abstract Objective: The purpose of the study is to explore the use of formal systems to model nursing terminology.

Design: GRAIL is a formal, compositional terminologic language, closely related to frame-based systems and conceptual graphs, which allows concepts to be formed from atomic-level primitives and automatically classified in a multiple hierarchy. A formal model of the alpha version of the International Classification for Nursing Practice (ICNP) classification of nursing interventions was constructed in GRAIL.

Measurements: The model was analyzed for completeness, coherence, clarity, expressiveness, usefulness, and maintainability.

Results: GRAIL is capable of representing the complete set of atomic-level concepts within the ICNP as well as certain cross-mappings to other vocabularies. It also has the potential to represent many more concepts, to an arbitrary level of detail.

Conclusions: Formal systems such as GRAIL can overcome many of the difficulties associated with traditional nursing vocabularies without restricting the level of detail needed to describe nursing care.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J.-I. Hwang, J. J. Cimino, and S. Bakken Integrating Nursing Diagnostic Concepts into the Medical Entities Dictionary Using the ISO Reference Terminology Model for Nursing Diagnosis J. Am. Med. Inform. Assoc., July 1, 2003; 10(4): 382 - 388. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Clambers Nursing informatics and practice development Journal of Research in Nursing, March 1, 2002; 7(2): 101 - 115. [Abstract] [PDF]

				N. R. Hardiker and A. L. Rector Structural Validation of Nursing Terminologies J. Am. Med. Inform. Assoc., May 1, 2001; 8(3): 212 - 221. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				N. R. Hardiker, D. Hoy, and A. Casey Standards for Nursing Terminology J. Am. Med. Inform. Assoc., November 1, 2000; 7(6): 523 - 528. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				S. Bakken, J. J. Cimino, R. Haskell, R. Kukafka, C. Matsumoto, G. K. Chan, and S. M. Huff Evaluation of the Clinical LOINC (Logical Observation Identifiers, Names, and Codes) Semantic Structure as a Terminology Model for Standardized Assessment Measures J. Am. Med. Inform. Assoc., November 1, 2000; 7(6): 529 - 538. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				J. J. Cimino From Data to Knowledge through Concept-oriented Terminologies: Experience with the Medical Entities Dictionary J. Am. Med. Inform. Assoc., May 1, 2000; 7(3): 288 - 297. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				S. Bakken, M. S. Cashen, E. A. Mendonca, A. O'Brien, and J. Zieniewicz Representing Nursing Activities within a Concept-oriented Terminological System: Evaluation of aType Definition J. Am. Med. Inform. Assoc., January 1, 2000; 7(1): 81 - 90. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. B. Henry, J. J. Warren, L. Lange, and P. Button A Review of Major Nursing Vocabularies and the Extent to Which They Have the Characteristics Required for Implementation in Computer-based Systems J. Am. Med. Inform. Assoc., July 1, 1998; 5(4): 321 - 328. [Abstract] [Full Text]