Health and Biomedical Informatics Centre, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
JMIR Med Inform. 2016 Feb 24;4(1):e7. doi: 10.2196/medinform.5021.
Contributing to health informatics research means using conceptual models that are integrative and explain the research in terms of the two broad domains of health science and information science. However, it can be hard for novice health informatics researchers to find exemplars and guidelines in working with integrative conceptual models.
The aim of this paper is to support the use of integrative conceptual models in research on information and communication technologies in the health sector, and to encourage discussion of these conceptual models in scholarly forums.
A two-part method was used to summarize and structure ideas about how to work effectively with conceptual models in health informatics research that included (1) a selective review and summary of the literature of conceptual models; and (2) the construction of a step-by-step approach to developing a conceptual model.
The seven-step methodology for developing conceptual models in health informatics research explained in this paper involves (1) acknowledging the limitations of health science and information science conceptual models; (2) giving a rationale for one's choice of integrative conceptual model; (3) explicating a conceptual model verbally and graphically; (4) seeking feedback about the conceptual model from stakeholders in both the health science and information science domains; (5) aligning a conceptual model with an appropriate research plan; (6) adapting a conceptual model in response to new knowledge over time; and (7) disseminating conceptual models in scholarly and scientific forums.
Making explicit the conceptual model that underpins a health informatics research project can contribute to increasing the number of well-formed and strongly grounded health informatics research projects. This explication has distinct benefits for researchers in training, research teams, and researchers and practitioners in information, health, and other disciplines.
为健康信息学研究做出贡献意味着要使用具有综合性的概念模型，并根据健康科学和信息科学这两个广泛的领域来解释研究。然而，对于新手健康信息学研究人员来说，找到具有综合性概念模型的范例和指南可能会很困难。
本文旨在支持在卫生部门的信息和通信技术研究中使用综合性概念模型，并鼓励在学术论坛上讨论这些概念模型。
使用两部分方法总结和构建有关如何在健康信息学研究中有效地使用概念模型的想法，这包括（1）对概念模型文献进行选择性回顾和总结；以及（2）构建开发概念模型的逐步方法。
本文中解释的健康信息学研究中开发概念模型的七步方法包括（1）承认健康科学和信息科学概念模型的局限性；（2）为选择综合性概念模型提供理由；（3）口头和图形化地阐明概念模型；（4）从健康科学和信息科学领域的利益相关者那里寻求对概念模型的反馈；（5）使概念模型与适当的研究计划保持一致；（6）根据随时间获得的新知识调整概念模型；以及（7）在学术和科学论坛上传播概念模型。
明确健康信息学研究项目所依据的概念模型可以有助于增加形成良好且基础扎实的健康信息学研究项目的数量。这种解释对培训中的研究人员、研究团队以及信息、健康和其他学科的研究人员和从业人员都有明显的好处。
