Modeling nursing terminology using the GRAIL representation language.
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.