InfoRoute: the CISMeF Context-specific Search Algorithm

OBJECTIVE The aim of this paper was to present a practical InfoRoute algorithm and applications developed by CISMeF to perform a contextual information retrieval across multiple medical websites in different health domains. METHODS The algorithm was developed to treat multiple types of queries: natural, Boolean and advanced. The algorithm also generates multiple types of queries: Boolean query, PubMed query or Advanced query. Each query can be extended via an inter alignments relationship from UMLS and HeTOP portal. RESULTS A web service and two web applications have been developed based on the InfoRoute algorithm to generate links-query across multiple websites, i.e.: "PubMed" or "ClinicalTrials.org". CONCLUSION The InfoRoute algorithm is a useful tool to perform contextual information retrieval across multiple medical websites in both English and French.