CLASSIFICATION OF INTERVENTIONS IN
TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE
Hongyong Deng1, Farhad Shokraneh2, Clive E Adams2, Shanghua Liang1
1, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, NO 1200, Cailun Road, Shanghai, China, 201203
2, Cochrane Schizophrenia Group, Institute of Mental Health, University of Nottingham, Triumph Road Nottingham, UK, NG7 2TU
Background
Results
• Classification systems have the
potential to cut across a confusion of
terms, bringing order to a complex
inter-related group of treatments and
allowing efficient identification of the
same, similar or related interventions.
• Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
has a large number of interventions
rooted in Chinese traditional culture
and unique theories of medicine.
• Classifications of TCM within
databases vary.
• This paper provides descriptions of
key systems of classification.
System name
Creator
Type
Features
MeSH
NLM(U.S.)
thesaurus
ICD-9-CM-3
WHO and
NCHS
ICD-10-PCS
Note
Tree structure
“acupuncture”
items
10 items in 3 levels
classification
Alphabetic index and tabular list
3 items
Classification system for
surgical, diagnostic and
therapeutic procedures
WHO
classification
Multi-axial seven character
alphanumeric code structure
2 codes
provides a unique code for all
substantially different procedures
and interventions
ICHI
WHO
classification
TCMeSH
CACMS
thesaurus
Three axes and the coding scheme One action of ‘DA’ for
comprises a seven-character
‘acupuncture’
structure
Tree structure
64 items in 4 levels
Most widely accepted in
biomedical information and
documents.
classification and coding system
of procedures in medicine
developed specifically for
indexing, cataloguing, and
searching for TCM
Methods
• We compared TCM intervention
terms within several different systems
• the ICD-9 Clinical Modification (ICD9-CM) Volume 3
• ICD-10 Procedure Coding System
(ICD-10-PCS)
• International Classification of Health
Interventions (ICHI)
• Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
• Chinese Traditional Medicine and
Materia Medica Subject Headings
(TCMeSH)
Therapeutics+ TE02
Moxibustion+ TE02.035.005.150.005
Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic
Techniques and Equipment [E]+
Acupuncture,Ear [E02.190.044.133]
Therapeutics [E02]+
Health Preserving Moxibustion
Burning Rush Moxibustion
Therapy
Apparatus Aided Moxibustion
Therapy
Traditional Chinese Medicine Therapy+
TE02.035
Acupoint Therapy+ TE02.035.005.150.020
Magneto Therapy+
TE02.035.005.150.020.005
Acupuncture Points [E02.190.044.555.035]
Moxibustion [E02.190.044.588]
Auriculotherapy [E02.190.204]+
Acupuncture, Ear [E02.190.204.500]
Musculoskeletal Manipulations
[E02.190.599]+
Therapy, Soft Tissue [E02.190.599.750]+
Therapeutic Methods+ TE02.035.005
Acupuncture Therapy+ TE02.035.005.150.025
Stone Needling
Acupressure [E02.190.599.750.500]
Acupuncture Moxibustion Therapy+
TE02.035.005.150
e.g.
Acupuncture in
TCMeSH
Ultrasound Acupuncture
Magnetic Bead Therapy
Needling Methods
Meridian Magnetic Field
Therapy
Spoon Needle Therapy
Electric Stimulation Therapy
Nose Acupuncture
Lip Acupuncture
Acupoint Pressure Therapy
Electroacupuncture Therapy
Auricular Acupuncture
Bloodletting Therapy
Auricular Plaster Therapy+
TE02.035.005.150.020.015
Indirect Moxibustion Therapy
Thunderbolt Moxibustion Therapy
Electroacupuncture [E02.190.044.244]
Meridians [E02.190.044.555]+
Electric Moxibustion Therapy
Governor Channel Moxibustion
Therapy
Acupuncture Therapy [E02.190.044]+
Complementary Therapies [E02.190]+
Moxa Stick Moxibustion Therapy
Moxa Cone Moxibustion Therapy
Acupuncture Analgesia [E02.190.044.105]
e.g.
Acupuncture in
MeSH
Auricular Point Sticking, Semen
Vaccariae
Reverse Acupuncture and
Moxibustion
Bee Needling Therapy
Fire Needle Therapy
Laser Acupuncture Therapy
Acupoint Poking Therapy
Taiyi Moxa Cigar Therapy
Dorsimesal Acupuncture
Face Acupuncture
Tongue Acupuncture
Big Needle Therapy
Hand Foot Acupuncture
Cutaneous Needle Therapy
Moxibustion with Moxibustioner
Acupoint Ligation Therapy
Hydro Acupuncture Therapy
Needle Warming Therapy
Suspended Moxibustion Therapy
Acupoint Iontophoresis Therapy
Medicinal Moxibustion Therapy
Catgut Embedment in Acupoint
Direct Moxibustion Therapy
Zhuang Thread Moxibustion
Therapy
Scalp Acupuncture
Specific Region Acupuncture+
TE02.035.005.150.025.070
Eye Acupuncture
Specific Tissue Acupuncture+
TE02.035.005.150.025.075
Lymph Node Pricking Therapy
Body Acupuncture
Periosteal Acupuncture
Acupoint Sticking Therapy
Microwave Acupuncture Therapy
Acupuncture Sensation
Transcutaneous Electric Nerve
Stimulation Therapy
Acupuncture Analgesia
Nerve Trunk Stimulation
Therapy
Conclusions
•
•
•
•
NLM’s MeSH has the advantage of being simple and clear – it is, however, not an accurate representation of the complexity of the subject
TCMeSH is, by far, the best alternative solution for a controlled vocabulary for acupuncture - and TCM interventions in general - and as a basis for classification.
The TCMeSH controlled vocabulary is employed by the SinoMed and TCMLARS bibliographic databases.
Outside of these databases TCMeSH could act as a springboard for free text searches in databases with less comprehensive controlled language for TCM.
For additional information please contact: Hongyong Deng, Associate-Professor, Ph.D., Shanghai University of T.C.M., Academic Visitor of Cochrane Schizophrenia Group, University of Nottingham, E-mail: [email protected]