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https://www.arca.fiocruz.br/handle/icict/29482
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ArticleCopyright
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Embargo date
2024-01-01
Sustainable Development Goals
03 Saúde e Bem-EstarCollections
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USING FORMAL METHODS FOR CONTENT VALIDATION OF MEDICAL PROCEDURE DOCUMENTS.
Verificação formal
Gramáticas Gráficas
Disseminação de informação
Informática em Saúde Pública
Formal verification
Graph Grammars
Information dissemination
Public Health Informatics
Author
Affilliation
Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. Instituto de Informática. Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. Instituto de Informática. Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. Instituto de Informática. Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. Instituto de Informática. Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto René Rachou. Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto René Rachou. Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. Instituto de Informática. Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. Instituto de Informática. Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. Instituto de Informática. Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto René Rachou. Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto René Rachou. Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: We propose the use of a formal approach to support content validation of a standard operating procedure (SOP) for a therapeutic intervention. Such an approach provides a useful tool to identify ambiguities, omissions and inconsistencies, and improves the applicability and efficacy of documents in the health settings.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: We apply and evaluate a methodology originally proposed for the verification of software specification documents to a specific SOP. The verification methodology uses the graph formalism to model the document. Semi-automatic analysis identifies possible problems in the model and in the original document. The verification is an iterative process that identifies possible faults in the original text that should be revised by its authors and/or specialists.
RESULTS: The proposed method was able to identify 23 possible issues in the original document (ambiguities, omissions, redundant information, and inaccuracies, among others). The formal verification process aided the specialists to consider a wider range of usage scenarios and to identify which instructions form the kernel of the proposed SOP and which ones represent additional or required knowledge that are mandatory for the correct application of the medical document.
CONCLUSION: By using the proposed verification process, a simpler and yet more complete SOP could be produced. As consequence, during the validation process the experts received a more mature document and could focus on the technical aspects of the procedure itself.
Keywords in Portuguese
Validação de conteúdoVerificação formal
Gramáticas Gráficas
Disseminação de informação
Informática em Saúde Pública
Keywords
Content validationFormal verification
Graph Grammars
Information dissemination
Public Health Informatics
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