Context-Based mapping of patient educational materials and standard clinical terminology

Patient education is crucial for understanding medical conditions, treatment options, and self-management techniques. Digital technology has revolutionised patient education, providing efficient and cost-effective alternatives to traditional methods. However, challenges persist in customising educational materials to specific clinical settings.

We investigated the relationship between healthcare terminology standards and the Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine - Clinical Terms (SNOMED CT) dictionary. Our aim was to provide practical mapping guidance and case examples to help users better understand how to map patient education materials (PEM) to SNOMED CT to generate consistent results across different institutions.

We mapped the titles of PEM in a single hospital setting using SNOMED CT terms. We focused on materials made between October 1, 2018, and November 30, 2022, and found 1,271 matchable PEM titles. Keywords were identified and sorted into categories like Target, Time, Condition, and Procedure. Two researchers worked independently to match these keywords with SNOMED CT, and any differences were resolved through discussion or third-party review.

Out of 1,271 PEM titles that were assigned to categories, only 3.9% remained unmapped. Most of the mapped titles were related to Procedure (93.3%), Condition (56.8%), Time (17.5%), and Target (12%); 2,688 keywords were mapped, with 62.4% single-mapped and 36.9% were multi-mapped. Among the keywords mapped to various categories, Procedures accounted for the highest proportion (49.4%).

Examining the keywords mapped to each SNOMED CT concept in different categories provided valuable insights into how terms are distributed and improved our understanding of the specific terms used in PEM. When educational materials are mapped to standard clinical terminologies and integrated into the Electronic Health Record (EHR), patients receive personalised and relevant health information, potentially improving engagement and health outcomes. This approach may reduce the workload of healthcare personnel, reduce miscommunication, and improve overall healthcare efficiency.