Linguistic processing and classification of semi structured bibliographic data on complementary medicine.

Complementary and alternative therapies and medicines (CAM) such as acupuncture or mistletoe treatment are much asked for by cancer patients. With a growing interest in such therapies, physicians need a simple tool with which to get an overview of the scientific publications on CAM, particularly those that are not listed in common bibliographic databases like MEDLINE. CAMbase is an XML-based bibliographical database on CAM which serves to address this need. A custom front end search engine performs semantic analysis of textual input enabling users to quickly find information relevant to the search queries. This article describes the technical background and the architecture behind CAMbase, a free online database on CAM (www.cambase.de). We give examples on its use, describe the underlying algorithms and present recent statistics for search terms related to complementary therapies in oncology.

CAMbase--a XML-based bibliographical database on Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM).

The term "Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)" covers a variety of approaches to medical theory and practice, which are not commonly accepted by representatives of conventional medicine. In the past two decades, these approaches have been studied in various areas of medicine. Although there appears to be a growing number of scientific publications on CAM, the complete spectrum of complementary therapies still requires more information about published evidence. A majority of these research publications are still not listed in electronic bibliographical databases such as MEDLINE. However, with a growing demand by patients for such therapies, physicians increasingly need an overview of scientific publications on CAM. Bearing this in mind, CAMbase, a bibliographical database on CAM was launched in order to close this gap. It can be accessed online free of charge or additional costs. The user can peruse more than 80,000 records from over 30 journals and periodicals on CAM, which are stored in CAMbase. A special search engine performing syntactical and semantical analysis of textual phrases allows the user quickly to find relevant bibliographical information on CAM. Between August 2003 and July 2006, 43,299 search queries, an average of 38 search queries per day, were registered focussing on CAM topics such as acupuncture, cancer or general safety aspects. Analysis of the requests led to the conclusion that CAMbase is not only used by scientists and researchers but also by physicians and patients who want to find out more about CAM. Closely related to this effort is our aim to establish a modern library center on Complementary Medicine which offers the complete spectrum of a modern digital library including a document delivery-service for physicians, therapists, scientists and researchers.

[CAMbase--the realisation of an XML-based bibliographical database system for complementary and alternative medicine]. / Die CAMbase-literaturdatenbank--Realisierung eines XML-basierten komplementärmedizinischen Datenbankverbundes.

UNLABELLED: The term "Complementary and Alternative Medicine" (CAM) describes a variety of approaches to medical theory and practice that have not been commonly accepted by representatives of conventional medicine. This is why research results from this field of medicine are seldom reported in well-established medical journals. Due to the high level of interest and demand for complementary medicine, though, there is an urgent need for a system covering the scientific literature of complementary medicine. Against this background, the chair of Medical Theory and Complementary Medicine at the University of Witten/Herdecke has launched the CAMbase project. The database can be accessed online and is free of charge or additional costs at www.cambase.de. METHODS: Using XML-based protocols, existing databases of Complementary and Alternative Medicine were imported and indexed in a central database for online retrieval. XML-based interfaces, which have been developed within this project (implementation of Open Archives Initiative protocols), can be used for embedding CAMbase into larger bibliographical networks. RESULTS: Since the relaunch of CAMbase in August 2003 an average of 107 search queries per day have been registered. An initial analysis of the search terms has demonstrated that CAMbase is not only used by scientists and researchers but also by both health professionals in clinical practice and patients in search for information about complementary therapies. PERSPECTIVES: In the long term the accessibility of full-text versions of original publications on Complementary Medicine will have to be improved. The further development of CAMbase in co-operation with the Library of Witten/Herdecke University is currently being planned.