TY - JOUR
T1 - Construction of mammographic examination process ontology using bottom–up hierarchical task analysis
AU - Yagahara, Ayako
AU - Yokooka, Yuki
AU - Jiang, Guoqian
AU - Tsuji, Shintarou
AU - Fukuda, Akihisa
AU - Nishimoto, Naoki
AU - Kurowarabi, Kunio
AU - Ogasawara, Katsuhiko
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2018, Japanese Society of Radiological Technology and Japan Society of Medical Physics.
PY - 2018/3/1
Y1 - 2018/3/1
N2 - Describing complex mammography examination processes is important for improving the quality of mammograms. It is often difficult for experienced radiologic technologists to explain the process because their techniques depend on their experience and intuition. In our previous study, we analyzed the process using a new bottom–up hierarchical task analysis and identified key components of the process. Leveraging the results of the previous study, the purpose of this study was to construct a mammographic examination process ontology to formally describe the relationships between the process and image evaluation criteria to improve the quality of mammograms. First, we identified and created root classes: task, plan, and clinical image evaluation (CIE). Second, we described an “is-a” relation referring to the result of the previous study and the structure of the CIE. Third, the procedural steps in the ontology were described using the new properties: “isPerformedBefore,” “isPerformedAfter,” and “isPerformedAfterIfNecessary.” Finally, the relationships between tasks and CIEs were described using the “isAffectedBy” property to represent the influence of the process on image quality. In total, there were 219 classes in the ontology. By introducing new properties related to the process flow, a sophisticated mammography examination process could be visualized. In relationships between tasks and CIEs, it became clear that the tasks affecting the evaluation criteria related to positioning were greater in number than those for image quality. We developed a mammographic examination process ontology that makes knowledge explicit for a comprehensive mammography process. Our research will support education and help promote knowledge sharing about mammography examination expertise.
AB - Describing complex mammography examination processes is important for improving the quality of mammograms. It is often difficult for experienced radiologic technologists to explain the process because their techniques depend on their experience and intuition. In our previous study, we analyzed the process using a new bottom–up hierarchical task analysis and identified key components of the process. Leveraging the results of the previous study, the purpose of this study was to construct a mammographic examination process ontology to formally describe the relationships between the process and image evaluation criteria to improve the quality of mammograms. First, we identified and created root classes: task, plan, and clinical image evaluation (CIE). Second, we described an “is-a” relation referring to the result of the previous study and the structure of the CIE. Third, the procedural steps in the ontology were described using the new properties: “isPerformedBefore,” “isPerformedAfter,” and “isPerformedAfterIfNecessary.” Finally, the relationships between tasks and CIEs were described using the “isAffectedBy” property to represent the influence of the process on image quality. In total, there were 219 classes in the ontology. By introducing new properties related to the process flow, a sophisticated mammography examination process could be visualized. In relationships between tasks and CIEs, it became clear that the tasks affecting the evaluation criteria related to positioning were greater in number than those for image quality. We developed a mammographic examination process ontology that makes knowledge explicit for a comprehensive mammography process. Our research will support education and help promote knowledge sharing about mammography examination expertise.
KW - Clinical image evaluation
KW - Mammographic process
KW - Ontology
KW - Radiologic technologists
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U2 - 10.1007/s12194-017-0439-9
DO - 10.1007/s12194-017-0439-9
M3 - Article
C2 - 29322305
AN - SCOPUS:85040356306
SN - 1865-0333
VL - 11
SP - 73
EP - 81
JO - Radiological Physics and Technology
JF - Radiological Physics and Technology
IS - 1
ER -