Zeitschrift für Informatik und Systembiologie

Clinical Decision Support System based on Fuzzy Cognitive Maps

Abstract

Nassim Douali, Elpiniki I Papageorgiou, Jos De Roo, Hans Cools and Marie-Christine Jaulent

Decision making in the field of medical diagnosis involves a degree of uncertainty and a need to take into account the patient’s clinical parameters, the context of illness and the medical knowledge of the physician, to determine and confirm the diagnosis. In this study, we investigated and evaluated a model framework, for diagnostic decisions, based on a cognitive process and a Semantic Web approach. Fuzzy cognitive maps (FCM) are a cognitive process applying the main features of fuzzy logic and neural processors to situations involving imprecision and uncertain descriptions, in a similar way to intuitive human reasoning. We explored the use of this method for modeling clinical practice guidelines, using Semantic Web tools to implement these guidelines and for the formalization process. Twenty-five clinical and 13 diagnosis concepts were identified, to represent the problem of urinary tract infection diagnosis.