Using formal methods for content validation of medical procedure documents.

Objective: We propose the use of a formal approach to support content validation of a standard operating procedure (SOP) for a therapeutic intervention. Such an approach provides a useful tool to identify ambiguities, omissions and inconsistencies, and improves the applicability and efficacy of documents in the health settings.

Materials And Methods: We apply and evaluate a methodology originally proposed for the verification of software specification documents to a specific SOP.