An evaluation of the usefulness of two terminology models for integrating nursing diagnosis concepts into SNOMED Clinical Terms

Objectives: We evaluated the usefulness of two models for integrating nursing diagnosis concepts into SNOMED Clinical Terms (CT). Methods: First, we dissected nursing diagnosis term phrases from two source terminologies (North American Nursing Diagnosis Association Taxonomy 1 (NANDA) and Omaha System) into the semantic categories of the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) categorical structure and ISO reference terminology model (RTM). Second, we critically analyzed the similarities between the semantic links in the CEN and ISO models and the semantic links used to formally define diagnostic concepts in SNOMED CT. Results: Our findings demonstrated that focus, bearer/subject of information, and judgment were present in 100% of the NANDA and Omaha term phrases. The Omaha term phrases contained no additional descriptors beyond those considered mandatory in the CEN and ISO models. The comparison among the semantic links showed that SNOMED CT currently contains all but one of the semantic links needed to model the two source terminologies for integration. In conclusion, our findings support the potential utility of the CEN and ISO models for integrating nursing diagnostic concepts into SNOMED CT.