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SNOMED CT® Release Format 1 (RF1) Guide - ihtsdo

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4.4.1.4.1. Avoiding multiple hits on the same concept<br />

In many instances several synonyms associated with the same concept contain the same keyword. The<br />

designer of search software may consider filtering the output of search results so that only the first matching<br />

description for a concept is displayed.<br />

Example:<br />

"Endoscopic examination of the stomach" and "endoscopy of the stomach" are synonyms of the same<br />

concept. A search for the target phrase "endo* stomach" would return the first phrase found during the<br />

search. The second would be excluded, since it has the same concept Identifier as an existing match<br />

for this search.<br />

4.4.1.4.2. Constraining and extending search parameters<br />

User configurable options may be one way of limiting search results. Three possible methods of limiting<br />

search results through user configurable options are suggested here:<br />

• Limiting searches to exact matches unless wild cards are used. A search on a single word may produce<br />

many matches if it is assumed that the user is searching for any phrase that contains the target word.<br />

Forcing the use of wild cards for this kind of search can help avoid this problem.<br />

• Make searches that include use of " word equivalents" a user configurable option that can be used to<br />

extend or constrain a search.<br />

• Display search results a few at a time, with most frequently used descriptions listed first. This option will<br />

require the application to track the frequency of term selection so that search results can be sorted in this<br />

way.<br />

4.4.2. Hierarchical Navigation<br />

This section of the guide describes the Terminology services that are likely to be required to navigate <strong>SNOMED</strong><br />

CT hierarchies.<br />

One of the key strengths of <strong>SNOMED</strong> CT is a rich set of relationships that connect the concepts within the<br />

terminology. The primary use of these relationships is to facilitate selective retrieval. However, some of these<br />

relationships are arranged in hierarchies that can be navigated using an appropriate user-interface control.<br />

For example, the subtype hierarchy formed by the | is a | relationships can be used to navigate from a selected<br />

concept to a more or less specific concept.<br />

<strong>SNOMED</strong> CT also specifies ways in which alternative navigation hierarchies can be created. Unlike relationship<br />

based hierarchies, navigation hierarchies convey no semantic information but are intended to be used to<br />

enhance the user experience when navigating through the terminology.<br />

4.4.2.1. Access to hierarchically related concepts<br />

Terminology servers should enable client applications to access collections of Concepts that are related to<br />

a specified Concept as:<br />

• Subtype children<br />

• Subtype descendants (includes all generations of children);<br />

• Supertype parents<br />

• Supertype ancestors (includes all previous generations of parents).<br />

Terminology services <strong>Guide</strong> (<strong>RF1</strong>) | 317<br />

© 2002-2012 International Health Terminology Standards Development Organisation CVR #: 30363434

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