Document Detail


Understanding, navigating and communicating knowledge: issues and challenges.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  9865044     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
This paper presents a psychological perspective on key issues related to medical vocabularies. There have been rapid advances in the development of computer technology underlying medical information systems. However, in keeping with technological progress, we must also take into account advances in our understanding of human behaviour and learn from failures in human performance. A central issue examined in this paper is the extent to which we can develop generic vocabularies that are also flexible and adaptable to specific situations. Empirical research indicates that variability in human performance is much greater than what current medical classifications take into account. A related challenge is that of how to best develop vocabularies that meet the needs of users. Based on theoretical perspectives and research emerging from the domain of cognitive psychology, we suggest that an understanding of the cognitive mechanisms underlying the comprehension and application of terminology is required. It is argued that rather than beginning with highly specified terminologies, i.e. the normative approach, we might instead begin by examining the natural context of how health care workers acquire, understand and negotiate knowledge in practice.
Authors:
V L Patel; A W Kushniruk
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Methods of information in medicine     Volume:  37     ISSN:  0026-1270     ISO Abbreviation:  Methods Inf Med     Publication Date:  1998 Nov 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  1999-02-24     Completed Date:  1999-02-24     Revised Date:  2006-11-15    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0210453     Medline TA:  Methods Inf Med     Country:  GERMANY    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  460-70     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Centre for Medical Education, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. patel@hebb.psych.mcgill.ca
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Artificial Intelligence*
Computer Literacy
Humans
Information Storage and Retrieval
Medical Informatics Applications*
Medical Informatics Computing*
Vocabulary, Controlled*

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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