The Query Tool is the main component through which users construct, refine, and submit i2b2 queries. Query construction is primarily based on drag-and-drop and selecting the appropriate options. This page details the various 'Query Tool' operations and options and how to use 'Query Tool' in conjunction with other components. The Table of Content offers links to quickly jump to relevant topics. In addition, a quick start video show the query process and to demonstrate the basic query-building features.
3.1 Quick Start Video
This video introduces the basic functionalities of the Query Tool through building a series of simple queries.
3.2 What is a Query?
An i2b2 query is a request that contains users' search criteria for patients stored in an i2b2 database. A query can be sent to an i2b2 server, where it is evaluated and the results are returned to the users after some time. A query typically contains one or more ontology terms users are interested in. For example, users may select ontology terms to query for patients with certain medications, diagnoses, and demographic information. Users can apply constraints to the terms to be more specific about the criteria. When a query is submitted, it will will take some time for i2b2 to process. Query Status will keep track of how long the query takes to run, and show the results when the query completes. When a query completes, the query itself along with all its results are stored in Previous Queries. Some results such as patient sets can also be used in a new query.
i. Definition of a Query
ii. Life Cycle of a Query
iii. Results of a Query
1) Patient Number is the default result
2) Other Options are available (see ... )
3) Detailed medical data are not part of the results the Query Tool can provide. Other steps are required.
3.3 Building a New Query
Initially the Query Tool shows three Groups to the users, but only one (the first one) is active. Users are to add criteria via drag-and-drop to the Groups to construct their queries. A number of potential i2b2 objects can be added to the Groups. They include ontology terms, previous queries, results of previous queries, and items from the Workplace.
i. Adding i2b2 Objects
1) Dragging and Dropping
2) Including a Previous Query
3) Including a Query Result (Patient Set/ Patient)
4) Including a Folder in Workplace
ii. AND/OR Operators
Order of Precedents
iii. How to use a lab test (terms with values)
iv. Run Query and Clear buttons
3.4 Resetting the Query Tool (Clear)
3.5 What Happens when a query gets queued?
3.6 Rerun a Previous Query
3.7 Advanced Query Options
i.Output Options
1) Patient Set
2) Encounter Set
3) Number of Patients
4) Gender Patient Breakdown
5) Vital Status Patient Breakdown
6) Race Patient Breakdown
7) Age Patient Breakdown
8) Timeline
9) Length of Stay Breakdown
10) Top 20 Medications Breakdown
12) Top 20 diagnoses Breakdown
13) Inpatient and Outpatient Breakdown
ii. Managing Groups
1) Additional Groups
2) Shifting Group Order
3) Delete Groups
iii. Specifying Constraints
1) Date Constraints (Panel-level and Term-level)
2) Negation (Exclude)
3) Occurrences
iv. Value Constraints
(e.g. "Find patients who have a systolic blood pressure reading greater than 130 mm Hg")
