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. 1998 Jan-Feb;5(1):120-8.
doi: 10.1136/jamia.1998.0050120.

Modeling nursing terminology using the GRAIL representation language

N R Hardiker  1 , A L Rector
Affiliations

Modeling nursing terminology using the GRAIL representation language

N R Hardiker et al. J Am Med Inform Assoc. 1998 Jan-Feb.

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.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Assertion of elementary entities in GRAIL.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Formal subsumption in GRAIL.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Multiple classification in GRAIL.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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