Representing nursing activities within a concept-oriented terminological system: Evaluation of a type definition

Objective: A type definition, as a component of the categorical structures of a concept-oriented terminology, must support nonambiguous concept repres entations and, consequently, comparisons of data that are represented using different terminologies. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the adeq uacy and utility of a proposed type definition for nursing activity concept s. Design: Nursing activity terms (n = 1039) from patient charts and intervent ion terms from two nursing terminologies (Home Health care Classification a nd Omaha System) were decomposed into the attributes of the proposed type d efinition--Delivery Mode, Activity Focus, and Recipient. Measurements: Attributes of the type definition were coded as present or ab sent for each term by multiple raters. In addition, Delivery Mode was rated as Explicit or Implicit and Recipient was rated as Explicit, Implicit, or Ambiguous. The data were summarized using descriptive statistics. Inter-rat er reliabilities were calculated for each attribute of the type definition. Results: All attributes of the type definition were present in 73.9 percent of the chart terms, 91.3 percent of Home Health Care Classification interv ention terms, and 63.5 percent of Omaha System intervention terms. While De livery Mode and Activity Focus were almost universally present, Recipient w as problematic. It was rated as ambiguous in 4.8 percent of the chart terms , 8.7 percent of Home Health Care Classification intervention terms, and 36 .5 percent of Omaha System intervention terms. Conclusions: The study findings supported the adequacy and utility of the t ype definition. Further research is needed' to refine the type definition a nd its use for representing nursing activity concepts within a concept-orie nted terminological system.