Language type Reference Sets

Language type Reference Set supports the representation of language and dialect preferences for the use of particular descriptions. Referenced components are SNOMED CT Descriptions, associated with an Acceptability Value: Acceptable or Preferred.

The most common use case for this type of Reference Set is to specify the Acceptable and Preferred Terms for use within a particular country or region. However, the same type of Reference Set can also be used to represent preferences for use of descriptions in a more specific context such as a clinical specialty, organization, or department.

To set which Language Reference Sets should be displayed in the editors and updated during authoring go to Snomed CT Settings.

Language type Reference Sets are considered to be structural elements. To be able to see them in the Reference Set View, disable the Filter structural elements button. In a Language type Reference Set SNOMED CT Descriptions are referenced and linked.

To create a new Language type Reference Set, right-click on a Language type node and select the New Language type Reference Set Context Menu option.

Once the Language type Reference Set is created, it will be available for selection in SNOMED CT Settings.

Languages selected in Snomed CT Settings will be displayed in the Concept Editor's description section and will be updated during authoring.

SNOMED CT Language Preferences

SNOMED CT Editor Overview Page with Selected Languages

SNOMED CT Editor References Page with all Language References

When creating a new concept, only those descriptions are copied that are preferred in a Language type Reference Set selected for editing in Snomed CT Settings. The Fully Specified Name and the Preferred Term will be referenced in all of the selected Language type Reference Sets automatically.

Descriptions added afterwards will be only referenced in that Language type Reference Set where the Add description button was pressed.

Descriptions can be selected for Language type Reference Sets by clicking on the blue triangle:

• Acceptable: This option will set the selected description as the acceptable description for the selected language
• Preferred: This option will set the selected description as the preferred description for the selected language

SNOMED CT Editor while Selecting Acceptability

When a description is retired, all its language references become inactive.

Optionally, you can open a Language type Reference Set in an editor and add/remove members the usual way. An Acceptability Value must be specified in the Add Reference Set Member Wizard.