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Yearb Med Inform 2012; 21(01): 34-43
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1639428
Working Group Contribution
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart

Business Process Modelling is an Essential Part of a Requirements Analysis

Contribution of EFMI Primary Care Working Group
S. de Lusignan
1   Department of Health Care Management and Policy, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, UK
3   Primary Care Informatics, Division of Population Health Sciences and Education, St. George’s – University of London, London, UK
,
P. Krause
2   Department of Computing, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, UK
,
G. Michalakidis
2   Department of Computing, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, UK
,
M. Tristan Vicente
3   Primary Care Informatics, Division of Population Health Sciences and Education, St. George’s – University of London, London, UK
,
S. Thompson
1   Department of Health Care Management and Policy, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, UK
,
M. McGilchrist
4   Division of Clinical & Population Sciences and Education, The Mackenzie Building, Dundee, Scotland
,
F. Sullivan
4   Division of Clinical & Population Sciences and Education, The Mackenzie Building, Dundee, Scotland
,
P. van Royen
5   Dept of Primary and interdisciplinary care, University of Antwerp, Antwerpen (Wilrijk), Belgium
,
L. Agreus
6   Dept of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden
,
T. Desombre
1   Department of Health Care Management and Policy, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, UK
,
A. Taweel
7   Department of Informatics and Public Health, King’s College London, London, UK
,
B. Delaney
8   Department of Primary Care and Public Health Sciences, London, UK
› Author Affiliations
IMIA and EFMI for supporting their primary care informatics working groups. Elena Crecan for her contribution to the research. TRANSFoRm is part-f inanced by the European Commission - DG INFSO (FP7 2477). Antonis Ntasioudis for assistance with the diagrams and modelling.
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
10 March 2018 (online)

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Summary

Objectives

To perform a requirements analysis of the barriers to conducting research linking of primary care, genetic and cancer data.

Methods

We extended our initial data-centric approach to include socio-culturalandbusinessrequirements.Wecreatedreferencemodels of core data requirements common to most studies using unified modelling language (UML), dataflow diagrams (DFD) and business process modelling notation (BPMN). We conducted a stakeholder analysis and constructed DFD and UML diagrams for use cases based on simulated research studies. We used research output as a sensitivity analysis.

Results

Differences between the reference model and use cases identified study specific data requirements. The stakeholder analysis identified: tensions, changes in specification, some indifference from data providers and enthusiastic informaticians urging inclusion of socio-cultural context. We identified requirements to collect information at three levels: microdata items, which need to be semantically interoperable, meso-the medical record and data extraction, and macro-the health system and socio-cultural issues. BPMN clarified complex business requirements among data providers and vendors; and additional geographical requirements for patients to be represented in both linked datasets. High quality research output was the norm for most repositories.

Conclusions

Reference models provide high-level schemata of the core data requirements. However, business requirements’ modelling identifies stakeholder issues and identifies what needs to be addressed to enable participation.

Keywords

General practice - medical records systems - computerized - research design - registry - records as topic