Summary
Objective: To evaluate the representation of environmental concepts associated with health
impacts in standardized clinical terminologies.
Methods: This study used a descriptive approach with methods informed by a procedural framework
for standardized clinical terminology mapping. The United Nations Global Indicator
Framework for the Sustainable Development Goals and Targets was used as the source
document for concept extraction. The target terminologies were the Systematized Nomenclature
of Medicine Clinical Terms (SNOMED CT) and the International Classification for Nursing
Practice (ICNP). Manual and automated mapping methods were utilized. The lists of
candidate matches were reviewed and iterated until a final mapping match list was
achieved.
Results: A total of 119 concepts with 133 mapping matches were added to the final SNOMED
CT list. Fifty-three (39.8%) were direct matches, 37 (27.8%) were narrower than matches,
35 (26.3%) were broader than matches, and 8 (6%) had no matches. A total of 26 concepts
with 27 matches were added to the final ICNP list. Eight (29.6%) were direct matches,
4 (14.8%) were narrower than, 7 (25.9%) were broader than, and 8 (29.6%) were no matches.
Conclusion: Following this evaluation, both strengths and gaps were identified. Gaps in terminology
representation included concepts related to cost expenditures, affordability, community
engagement, water, air and sanitation. The inclusion of these concepts is necessary
to advance the clinical reporting of these environmental and sustainability indicators.
As environmental concepts encoded in standardized terminologies expand, additional
insights into data and health conditions, research, education, and policy-level decision-making
will be identified.
Keywords
Nursing informatics - environmental health - standardized nursing terminology - systematized
nomenclature of medicine - artificial intelligence