title: SMASH: A Data-driven Informatics Method to Assist Experts in Characterizing Semantic Heterogeneity among Data Elements.
abstract: Semantic heterogeneity (SH) is detrimental to data interoperability and integration in healthcare. Assessing SH is difficult, yet fundamental to addressing the problem. Using expert-based and data-driven methods we assessed SH among HIV-associated data elements (DEs). Using Clinicaltrials.gov, we identified and obtained eight data dictionaries, and created a DE inventory. We vectorized DEs by study, and developed a new method, String Metric-assisted Assessment of Semantic Heterogeneity (SMASH), to find DEs: similar in Anand Bn, unique to An, and unique to Bn. An HIV expert assessed pairs for semantic equivalence. Heterogeneous DEs were either semantically-equivalent/syntactically-different (HIV-positive/HIV+/Seropositive), or syntactically-equivalent/semantically-different ("Partner" [sexual]/"Partner"[relationship]). Context of usage was considered. SMASH aided identification of SH. Of 1,175 DE from pairs, 1,048 (87%) were semantically heterogeneous and 127 (13%) were homogeneous. Most heterogeneous pairs (97%) were semantically-equivalent/syntactically-different. Expert-based and data-driven methods are complementary for assessing SH, especially among semantically-equivalent/syntactically-different DE. Similar expert-based/data-driven solutions are recommended for resolving SH.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Informatics, Columbia University, New York, NY; HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, NY State Psychiatric Institute & Columbia University, New York, NY.
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Informatics, Columbia University, New York, NY.
authors.forename: Chunhua
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Weng
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Informatics, Columbia University, New York, NY; New York-Presbyterian Hospital Value Institute, New York, NY.
authors.forename: David K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Vawdrey
authors.affiliation: HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, NY State Psychiatric Institute & Columbia University, New York, NY.
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carballo-Diéguez
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Informatics, Columbia University, New York, NY; School of Nursing, Columbia University, New York, NY.
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bakken
mesh_terms: D048088:Informatics; D007256:Information Systems; D012660:Semantics; D018511:Systems Integration