scholarly journals MOLES3: Implementing an ISO standards driven data catalogue

2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 249-259 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graham A Parton ◽  
Steven Donegan ◽  
Stephen Pascoe ◽  
Ag Stephens ◽  
Spiros Ventouras ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Information Structure ◽  
Information Infrastructure ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Environmental Data ◽  
Data Provenance ◽  
Free Text ◽  
Early Assessment ◽  
Structured Information ◽  
Management Functions ◽  
Previous Iteration

ISO19156 Observations and Measurements (O&M) provides a standardised framework for organising information about the collection of information about the environment.  Here we describe the implementation of a specialisation of O&M for environmental data, the Metadata Objects for Linking Environmental Sciences (MOLES3).MOLES3 provides support for organising information about data, and for user navigation around data holdings. The implementation described here, “CEDA-MOLES”, also supports data management functions for the Centre for Environmental Data Archival, CEDA. The previous iteration of MOLES (MOLES2) saw active use over five years, being replaced by CEDA-MOLES in late 2014. During that period important lessons were learnt both about the information needed, as well as how to design and maintain the necessary information systems. In this paper we review the problems encountered in MOLES2; how and why CEDA-MOLES was developed and engineered; the migration of information holdings from MOLES2 to CEDA-MOLES; and, finally, provide an early assessment of MOLES3 (as implemented in CEDA-MOLES) and its limitations.Key drivers for the MOLES3 development included the necessity for improved data provenance, for further structured information to support ISO19115 discovery metadata  export (for EU INSPIRE compliance), and to provide appropriate fixed landing pages for Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) in the presence of evolving datasets. Key lessons learned included the importance of minimising information structure in free text fields, and the necessity to support as much agility in the information infrastructure as possible without compromising on maintainability both by those using the systems internally and externally (e.g. citing in to the information infrastructure), and those responsible for the systems themselves. The migration itself needed to ensure continuity of service and traceability of archived assets.

scholarly journals Trialstreamer: a living, automatically updated database of clinical trial reports

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iain J Marshall ◽  
Benjamin Nye ◽  
Joël Kuiper ◽  
Anna Noel-Storr ◽  
Rachel Marshall ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Automated System ◽  
Free Text ◽  
Gold Standard Method ◽  
Rule Based ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Structured Information ◽  
Combine Machine ◽  
Clinical Queries ◽  
Clinical Trials Registry ◽  
Extract Information

Objective Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are the gold standard method for evaluating whether a treatment works in healthcare, but can be difficult to find and make use of. We describe the development and evaluation of a system to automatically find and categorize all new RCT reports. Materials and Methods Trialstreamer, continuously monitors PubMed and the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP), looking for new RCTs in humans using a validated classifier. We combine machine learning and rule-based methods to extract information from the RCT abstracts, including free-text descriptions of trial populations, interventions and outcomes (the 'PICO') and map these snippets to normalised MeSH vocabulary terms. We additionally identify sample sizes, predict the risk of bias, and extract text conveying key findings. We store all extracted data in a database which we make freely available for download, and via a search portal, which allows users to enter structured clinical queries. Results are ranked automatically to prioritize larger and higher-quality studies. Results As of May 2020, we have indexed 669,895 publications of RCTs, of which 18,485 were published in the first four months of 2020 (144/day). We additionally include 303,319 trial registrations from ICTRP. The median trial sample size in the RCTs was 66. Conclusions We present an automated system for finding and categorising RCTs. This yields a novel resource: A database of structured information automatically extracted for all published RCTs in humans. We make daily updates of this database available on our website (trialstreamer.robotreviewer.net).

Benefits and Challenges of Using Virtual Primary Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic: An International Cross-sectional Survey Study (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edmond Li ◽  
Rosy Tsopra ◽  
Geronimo Jimenez ◽  
Alice Serafini ◽  
Gustavo Gusso ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Survey Study ◽  
Free Text ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Remote Care

BACKGROUND With the onset of COVID-19, general practitioners (GPs) and patients worldwide swiftly transitioned from face-to-face to digital remote consultations. There is a need to evaluate how this global shift has impacted patient care, healthcare providers, patient and carer experience, and health systems. OBJECTIVE We explored GPs’ perspectives on the main benefits and challenges of using digital remote care. METHODS GPs across 20 countries completed an online questionnaire between June – September 2020. GPs’ perceptions on main barriers and challenges were explored using free-text questions. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. RESULTS A total of 1,605 respondents participated in our survey. The benefits identified included reducing COVID-19 transmission risks, guaranteeing access and continuity of care, improved efficiency, faster access to care, improved convenience and communication with patients, greater work flexibility for providers, and hastening the digital transformation of primary care and accompanying legal frameworks. Main challenges included patient’s preference for face-to-face consultations, digital exclusion, lack of physical examinations, clinical uncertainty, delays in diagnosis and treatment, overuse and misuse of digital remote care, and unsuitability for certain types of consultations. Other challenges include the lack of formal guidance, higher workloads, remuneration issues, organisational culture, technical difficulties, implementation and financial issues, and regulatory weaknesses. CONCLUSIONS At the frontline of care delivery, GPs can provide important insights on what worked well, why, and how during the pandemic. Lessons learned can be used to inform the adoption of improved virtual care solutions, and support the long-term development of platforms that are more technologically robust, secure. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT RR2-10.2196/30099

scholarly journals Lessons Learned and New Challenges: Re-evaluation of End-User Assessment of a Skills-Based Training Program for Urology Trainees

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 238212051983455 ◽  
Author(s):  
Damian Flanders ◽  
Athina Pirpiris ◽  
Niall Corcoran ◽  
Robert Forsyth ◽  
Richard Grills
Keyword(s):  
Training Program ◽  
User Satisfaction ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Free Text ◽  
End User ◽  
Reading Material ◽  
Free Text Response ◽  
Assessment Period ◽  
Potential Improvement

Objectives: To re-assess the perceived benefit and relevance of simulation sessions to Victorian urology trainees and to identify areas for potential improvement. Subjects and methods: All trainees attending skills training sessions between 2011 and 2016 were asked to complete a structured questionnaire at the completion of the session. The questionnaire included 11 topic areas ranging from the year of surgical training to degree of usefulness of the session, including several sections for free-text response to offer more detailed feedback. Sessions were examined both individually and collectively to assess end-user satisfaction with the structure and content of the program. Results: In total, 24 individual skills sessions were held over the 6-year period, with a total of 355 attendees. Of these, 331 attendees completed the majority of the questionnaire, a response rate of over 93%. Overall 88% of the surveyed attendees stated that they had both the support of their supervising consultant and the flexibility of workload to attend the session; 90% of trainees felt that there was adequate reading material provided prior to the skills session, an improvement from 76% in the previous study period; and 97% of those surveyed felt that the existing session structure was appropriate and the same proportion found the sessions both useful and interesting, compared with just 63% in the previous study period. Analysis of individual topics demonstrates some variability in outcome measures, but for nearly every assessed parameter, greater than 90% of participants agreed that the session fulfilled the expected criteria. New topics developed since the 2011 analysis, including renal transplant and vascular repair, also had high levels of satisfaction. The practical models used have been refined and achieved higher scores than those in the previous assessment period. Conclusion: The urology skills-based training program has been well received by the surveyed trainees and is now embedded and accepted as part of the Victorian training program. The format of the sessions has matured and the overall rating, both individually and collectively, was high. There has been a clear increase in satisfaction across most areas assessed when compared with previous feedback. Despite this, there remain areas that can be improved, such as the amount and quality of available equipment and the inclusion of video demonstrations of operative techniques.

scholarly journals Code Orange: A Systematic Review of Psychosocial Disaster Response

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (s1) ◽  
pp. s69-s70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa B. Korman ◽  
Lauren Goldberg ◽  
Cailtin Klein ◽  
Marjan Khanjani ◽  
Gemma Cox ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Disaster Response ◽  
Psychological Treatment ◽  
Data Extraction ◽  
Mass Casualty ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Free Text ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Inclusion Criteria ◽  
Mass Trauma ◽  
Disaster Situation

Introduction:Survivors of mass casualty incidents are vulnerable to both physical and psychological injuries. Hospitals need to triage the walking wounded victims, their loved ones, and witnesses for symptoms of emotional distress to ensure that those who are traumatized benefit from proactive psychological treatment. Hospitals must also manage the influx of searching family and friends, and be able to reunite them with their loved ones, to reduce chaos and prevent hospital skipping.Aim:To analyze previous research on institutional psychosocial disaster response, what has or has not worked, and lessons learned in order to develop evidence-based future planning suggestions.Methods:A literature search was conducted on the following electronic databases: (Medline 2007 to July 2018), (Embase 2007 to July 2018), (PsycInfo 2007 to July 2018). A combination of subject headings and free text keywords were used to perform the searches. After removing duplicates, abstracts were screened independently by two reviewers for the following inclusion criteria: 1) crisis intervention (in a disaster situation), 2) mention of psychosocial response or lack thereof and lessons learned, 3)relevant outcomes, 4) OECD countries, and 5) journal articles published 2007–Present. Review articles were excluded. Primary and secondary reviewers are in the process of discussing discrepancies. Data extraction will be conducted from all articles that meet the inclusion criteria. Key themes to be analyzed include psychological casualties, searching family and friends, and family reunification plans.Results:The initial search yielded 6,267 results. 5,294 articles remained after duplicates were removed. Of the 4,890 reviewed thus far, 269 articles met inclusion criteria.Discussion:Although a wealth of existing literature notes the need for an effective psychosocial response in mass trauma and disaster situations, no prior study has analyzed the efficacy of such interventions or laid out an evidence-based plan. This study will fill this much-needed gap in the literature.

scholarly journals A Taxonomy of Crisis Management Functions

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 5147
Author(s):  
Todor Tagarev ◽  
Valeri Ratchev
Keyword(s):  
Crisis Management ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Crisis Communications ◽  
Research And Innovation ◽  
Technological Advances ◽  
Innovation Project ◽  
Risk Reduction Measures ◽  
Search For Information ◽  
Management Functions

The management of crises triggered by natural or manmade events requires a concerted effort of various actors crossing institutional and geographic boundaries. Technological advances allow to make crisis management more effective, but innovation is hindered by dispersed and often disconnected knowledge on the lessons learned, gaps, and solutions. Taxonomies enable the search for information of potential interest. This article presents a taxonomy of crisis management functions, designed on the basis of a conceptual model integrating the concepts of hazard, vulnerability, risk, and community, and the main consequence- and management-based concepts. At its highest level, the taxonomy includes ten functional areas: preparatory (mitigation, capability development, and strategic adaptiveness), operational (protection, response, and recovery), and common (crisis communications and information management; command, control, and coordination; logistics; and security management). The taxonomy facilitates the navigation of online platforms and the matching of needs and solutions. It has broader applications, e.g., for structuring the assessment of the societal impact of crisis management solutions and as a framework for a comprehensive assessment of disaster risk reduction measures. While the taxonomy was developed within a research and innovation project supported by the European Union, it reflects and is compatible with established international concepts and classification schemes, and is thus applicable by a wider international community.

Relational paraphrase acquisition from Wikipedia: The WRPA method and corpus

2013 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 355-389 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. VILA ◽  
H. RODRÍGUEZ ◽  
M. A. MARTÍ
Keyword(s):  
Natural Language Processing ◽  
Natural Language ◽  
High Precision ◽  
Language Processing ◽  
The Body ◽  
Free Text ◽  
String Similarity ◽  
Distant Learning ◽  
Structured Information ◽  
Anchor Points

AbstractParaphrase corpora are an essential but scarce resource in Natural Language Processing. In this paper, we present the Wikipedia-based Relational Paraphrase Acquisition (WRPA) method, which extracts relational paraphrases from Wikipedia, and the derived WRPA paraphrase corpus. The WRPA corpus currently covers person-related and authorship relations in English and Spanish, respectively, suggesting that, given adequate Wikipedia coverage, our method is independent of the language and the relation addressed. WRPA extracts entity pairs from structured information in Wikipedia applying distant learning and, based on the distributional hypothesis, uses them as anchor points for candidate paraphrase extraction from the free text in the body of Wikipedia articles. Focussing on relational paraphrasing and taking advantage of Wikipedia-structured information allows for an automatic and consistent evaluation of the results. The WRPA corpus characteristics distinguish it from other types of corpora that rely on string similarity or transformation operations. WRPA relies on distributional similarity and is the result of the free use of language outside any reformulation framework. Validation results show a high precision for the corpus.

scholarly journals Exploring Interval Graphs of Rare Diseases in Retrospective Analysis of Outpatient Records

10.29007/l7v8 ◽  
2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Svetla Boytcheva
Keyword(s):  
Pattern Mining ◽  
Clinical Decision Making ◽  
Clinical Decision ◽  
Interval Graphs ◽  
Insurance Fund ◽  
Free Text ◽  
Rare Disorders ◽  
Patient History ◽  
Structured Information ◽  
Data Collections

This paper deals with investigation of complex temporal relations between some rare disorders. It proposes an interval graphs approach combined with data mining for patient history pattern mining. The processed data are enriched with context information. Some text mining tools extract entities from free text and deliver additional attributes beyond the structured information about the patients. The test corpora contain pseudonymised reimbursement requests submitted to the Bulgarian National Health Insurance Fund in 2010-2015 for more than 5 million citizens yearly. Experiments were run on 2 data collections. Findings in these two collections are discussed on the basis of comparison between patients with and without rare disorders. Exploration of complex relations in rare-disease data can support analyzes of small size patient pools and assist clinical decision making.

scholarly journals Online Information Infrastructure Increases Inter-Rater Reliability of Medical Coders: A Quasi-Experimental Study (Preprint)

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julian Varghese ◽  
Sarah Sandmann ◽  
Martin Dugas
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Study ◽  
Language Processing ◽  
Odds Ratio ◽  
Information Infrastructure ◽  
Free Text ◽  
Online Information ◽  
Eligibility Criteria ◽  
Bootstrap Analysis ◽  
Rater Reliability ◽  
Quasi Experimental

BACKGROUND Medical coding is essential for standardized communication and integration of clinical data. The Unified Medical Language System by the National Library of Medicine is the largest clinical terminology system for medical coders and natural language processing tools. However, abundance of ambiguous codes leads to low rates of uniform coding among different coders. OBJECTIVE To measure uniform coding among different medical experts in terms of inter-rater reliability (IR) and analyze the effect on IR by using an expert-based online code suggestion system. METHODS A quasi-experimental study was conducted. Six medical experts coded 602 medical items from structured quality assurance forms (QA) or free-text eligibility criteria (EC) of 20 different clinical trials. Medical item content was selected based on mortality-leading diseases according to WHO data. The intervention consisted of using a semi-automatic code suggestion tool that is linked to a European information infrastructure providing a large medical text corpus of more than 300,000 medical form items with expert-assigned semantic codes. Krippendorff’s alpha (Kalpha) with bootstrap analysis was used for IR analysis and coding times were measured before and after intervention. RESULTS The intervention improved IR in structured QA form items (from Kalpha= 0.50, 95%-CI [0.43-0.57] to Kalpha = 0.62 [0.55-0.69]) and free-text eligibility criteria (from Kalpha = 0.19 [0.14-0.24] to Kalpha = 0.43 [0.37-0.50]) while preserving or slightly reducing mean coding time per item for all six coders. Regardless of intervention, pre-coordination and structured items were associated with significant higher IR, but the proportion of items that were pre-coordinated significantly increased after intervention (EC: Odds ratio: 4.92 [2.78 - 8.72]; QA: Odds ratio: 1.96 [1.19-3.25]). CONCLUSIONS The online code suggestion mechanism improved IR towards moderate or even substantial inter coder agreement. Pre-coordination and use of structured vs. free-text data elements are key drivers for higher IR.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document