Provenance Data Management in Health Information Systems: A Systematic Literature Review

AIMS

This article aims to perform a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) to better understand the structures of different methods, techniques, models, methodologies, and technologies related to provenance data management in health information systems (HISs). The SLR developed here seeks to answer the questions that contribute to describing the results.

METHOD

An SLR was performed on six databases using a search string. The backward and forward snowballing technique was also used. Eligible studies were all articles in English that presented on the use of different methods, techniques, models, methodologies, and technologies related to provenance data management in HISs. The quality of the included articles was assessed to obtain a better connection to the topic studied.

RESULTS

Of the 239 studies retrieved, 14 met the inclusion criteria described in this SLR. In order to complement the retrieved studies, 3 studies were included using the backward and forward snowballing technique, totaling 17 studies dedicated to the construction of this research. Most of the selected studies were published as conference papers, which is common when involving computer science in HISs. There was a more frequent use of data provenance models from the PROV family in different HISs combined with different technologies, among which blockchain and middleware stand out. Despite the advantages found, the lack of technological structure, data interoperability problems, and the technical unpreparedness of working professionals are still challenges encountered in the management of provenance data in HISs.

CONCLUSION

It was possible to conclude the existence of different methods, techniques, models, and combined technologies, which are presented in the proposal of a taxonomy that provides researchers with a new understanding about the management of provenance data in HISs.

Thesaurus and subject heading lists as Linked Data

Abstract Most libraries put a lot of effort into developing subject headings or thesauri, which are used to index and retrieve information. Nevertheless, in the library field, controlled vocabularies are associated to authority records as authority files. In order to become findable by search engines, these authority files should be modelled on semantic vocabularies. This research proposes an authority-record conversion process for publishing thesauri and subject headings as linked data, by using the Simple Knowledge Organization Systems data model. To this purpose, we undertook a bibliographic and documentary research on the World Wide Web Consortium recommendation guidelines, which were used to produce a set of procedures and technologies to support the conversion proposal. This research provides evidences that controlled vocabularies are an important resource for improving information retrieval on the web. The proposed conversion process works as a quick guide for controlled vocabulary integration and reuse among users and systems on the linked data environment. Although the proposal was originally intended for a library setting, it can be applied and tested in another type of institution, such as documentation centres, museums, or cultural heritage archives. It can also be used in other linked open data projects.

Taxonomias, ontologias e tesauros: possibilidades de contribuição para o processo de Engenharia de Requisitos

Algumas das atividades fundamentais do processo de desenvolvimento de software estão relacionadas à disciplina de Engenharia de Requisitos, cujos objetivos são descobrir, analisar, documentar e verificar os requisitos que farão parte do sistema. Os requisitos são as condições ou capacidades que um software precisa ter ou realizar para atender às necessidades de seus usuários. O presente estudo faz parte de uma pesquisa que está sendo desenvolvida com o intuito de propor um modelo de cooperação entre a Ciência da Informação e a Engenharia de Requisitos, e tem como objetivo apresentar os resultados de uma análise sobre as possibilidades de utilização dos sistemas de organização do conhecimento: taxonomias, tesauros e ontologias durante as atividades da Engenharia de Requisitos. Com base nos resultados obtidos, foi possível identificar em qual etapa do processo da Engenharia de Requisitos cada um dos tipos de sistema de organização do conhecimento é passível de ser utilizado. Espera-se com este estudo evidenciar a necessidade de novas pesquisas e propostas para fortalecer o intercâmbio entre a Ciência da Informação, como ciência, cujo objeto de estudo é a informação, e a Engenharia de Requisitos que, por sua vez, tem na informação a matéria-prima para a identificação das necessidades informacionais dos usuários de softwares.