title: Expression of a domain ontology model in unified modeling language for the World Health Organization International classification of impairment, disability, and handicap, version 2.
abstract: The International Classification of Impairment, Disability, and Handicap Version 2(ICIDH-2), an anticipated addition to the World Health Organization suite of terminologies, has been put forth as a means for standardized representation of generic health and/or functional status data. In an attempt to make explicit the ontology upon which ICIDH-2 is based the authors derived a concept model expressed as a Unified Modeling Language static class diagram through abstraction of concept-terms in the documentation provided with the Full Version Pre-Final Draft of ICIDH-2 (December 2000). ICIDH-2's semantic structure is analyzed and evaluated for its semantic consistency. Discussion is presented on the utility of domain ontology models in terminology development and potential roles ICIDH-2 might play, as it undergoes refinement towards a representational standard. It is intended that the proposed UML rendering will stimulate domain discourse and consensus that will lead to enhancement of conceptual clarity in the ICIDH-2 ontological hierarchy and further enable its study and development as a healthcare classification.
authors.affiliation: Section of Medical Information Resources, Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Foundation, Rochester, MN, USA.
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Ruggieri
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Elkin
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Solbrig
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Chute
mesh_terms: D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000145:classification*; D006801:Humans; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D018875:Vocabulary, Controlled; D014944:World Health Organization