ECLed– a tool supporting the effective use of the SNOMED CT Expression Constraint Language

TL;DR

ECLed is a user-friendly web tool that simplifies creating SNOMED CT ECL queries, making clinical data analysis more accessible.

Contribution

ECLed introduces a novel, user-friendly interface that abstracts the complexity of SNOMED CT ECL syntax and concept model for non-experts.

Findings

ECLed demonstrated high usability and successfully generated complex ECL queries.

The tool was integrated into the DaWiMed platform and worked with FHIR-formatted clinical data.

ECLed's modular design supports seamless frontend and backend communication via RESTful interfaces.

Abstract

The Expression Constraint Language (ECL) is a powerful query language for SNOMED CT, enabling precise semantic queries across clinical concepts. However, its complex syntax and reliance on the SNOMED CT Concept Model make it difficult for non-experts to use, limiting its broader adoption in clinical research and healthcare analytics.

This work presents ECLed, a web-based tool designed to simplify access to ECL queries by abstracting the complexity of ECL syntax and the SNOMED CT Concept Model. ECLed is aimed at non-technical users, enabling the creation and modification of ECL queries and facilitating the querying of patient data coded with SNOMED CT.

ECLed was developed following a detailed requirements analysis, addressing both functional and non-functional needs. The tool supports the creation and editing of SNOMED CT ECL queries, integrates a processed Concept Model, and uses FHIR terminology services for semantic validation. Its modular architecture, with a frontend based on Angular and a backend on Spring Boot, ensures seamless communication through RESTful interfaces.

ECLed demonstrated high usability in a user survey. Technical validation confirmed that it reliably generates and edits complex ECL queries. The tool was successfully integrated into the DaWiMed research platform, enhancing clinical analysis workflows. It also worked effectively with clinical data in FHIR format, although scalability with larger datasets remains to be tested.

ECLed overcomes the limitations of existing ECL tools by abstracting the complexity of both the syntax and the SNOMED CT Concept Model. It provides a user-friendly solution that enables both technical and non-technical users to easily create and edit ECL queries.

ECLed offers a practical, user-friendly solution for creating SNOMED CT ECL queries, effectively hiding the underlying complexity while optimizing clinical research and data analysis workflows. It holds significant potential for further development and integration into additional research platforms.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13326-025-00344-3.

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