A four stage approach for ontology-based health information system design.
OBJECTIVE
To describe and illustrate a four stage methodological approach to capture user knowledge in a biomedical domain area, use that knowledge to design an ontology, and then implement and evaluate the ontology as a health information system (HIS).


METHODS
A hybrid participatory design-grounded theory (GT-PD) method was used to obtain data and code them for ontology development. Prototyping was used to implement the ontology as a computer-based tool. Usability testing evaluated the computer-based tool.


RESULTS
An empirically derived domain ontology and set of three problem-solving approaches were developed as a formalized model of the concepts and categories from the GT coding. The ontology and problem-solving approaches were used to design and implement a HIS that tested favorably in usability testing.


CONCLUSIONS
The four stage approach illustrated in this paper is useful for designing and implementing an ontology as the basis for a HIS. The approach extends existing ontology development methodologies by providing an empirical basis for theory incorporated into ontology design.
Telfer School of Management, University of Ottawa, 55 Laurier Avenue East, Ottawa ON K1N 6N5, Canada. Kuziemsky@telfer.uottawa.ca
Craig E
CE
Kuziemsky
Francis
F
Lau
D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D007256:Information Systems