JSON-ASR:A lightweight data storage and exchange format for automatic systematic reviews of TCM

摘要

Objectives:The aim of this study was to investigate and develop a data storage and exchange format for the process of automatic systematic reviews(ASR)of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM).Methods:A lightweight and commonly used data format,namely,JavaScript Object Notation(JSON),was introduced in this study.We designed a fully described data structure to collect TCM clinical trial information based on the JSON syntax.Results:A smart and powerful data format,JSON-ASR,was developed.JSON-ASR uses a plain-text data format in the form of key/value pairs and consists of six sections and more than 80 preset pairs.JSON-ASR adopts extensible structured arrays to support the situations of multi-groups and multi-outcomes.Conclusion:JSON-ASR has the characteristics of light weight,flexibility,and good scalability,which is suitable for the complex data of clinical evidence.