KNAVE II: the definition and implementation of an intelligent tool for visualization and exploration of time-oriented clinical data

Abstract

KNAVE-II is an intelligent interface to a distributed web-based architecture that enables users (e.g., physicians) to query, visualize and explore clinical time-oriented databases. Based on prior studies, we have defined a set of requirements for provision of a service for interactive exploration of time oriented clinical data. The main requirements include the visualization, interactive exploration and explanation of both raw data and multiple levels of concepts abstracted from these data; the exploration of clinical data at different levels of temporal granularity along both absolute (calendar-based) and relative (clinically meaningful) time-lines; the exploration and dynamic visualization of the effects of simulated hypothetical modifications of raw data on the derived concepts; and the provision of generic services (such as statistics, documentation, fast search and retrieval of clinically significant concepts, amongst others). KNAVE-II has been implemented and is currently evaluated by expert clinicians in several medical domains, such as oncology, involving monitoring of chronic patients.