Towards democratisation of veterinary clinical protocols: Transferring their development from technical-coding experts to veterinary professionals for the case of Chronic Kidney Disease for Cats (CKD4Cats Domain-Specific Language)

Abstract

This paper presents CKD4Cats, a domain-specific language (DSL) for computerised Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) clinical protocols in cats - a very common disease in veterinary practice. Building on DSLs used in human health, CKD4Cats addresses veterinary-specific needs while addressing their shortcomings. Developed with JetBrains’ Meta-Programming System (MPS) and veterinary input, the DSL ensures ease of use and adoption. It employs advanced evaluation methods, creating a projectional editor that streamlines protocol creation, displays relevant options, and guarantees ”correct-by-construction” clinical protocols. This innovative approach democratises software development, making advanced tools accessible to non-technical users and significantly improving veterinary practice management.