The descriptor suggestion tool is an automated complement based on lexical analysis algorithms of the content in the Title and Abstract fields. DeCS descriptors are suggested based on lexical similarity and occurrence count.

Procedures for using the tool:

1. Critical validation

• Technically read the document.

• Compare the suggested terms with the actual content of the document.

• Use DeCS online (https://decs.bvsalud.org) to check the definition and hierarchy of the terms.

2. Term assignment

• If the suggested term is relevant to the focus of the study, insert it as a primary descriptor.

• If the term is contextual, secondary, or methodological, insert it as a secondary descriptor.

• Manually add qualifiers, if applicable, according to the indexing notes in DeCS.

3. Verification

• The tool is a support resource. Always carry out a technical reading of the document.

• Check if publication types, target population (pre-coded descriptors), geographic locations, or clinical conditions mentioned are missing.

• Be careful not to assign pre-coded descriptors or publication types as primary or secondary descriptors, since the tool does not perform this type of analysis and has suggested these terms incorrectly as descriptors.

4. Best practices

• Never accept all suggested terms without analysis.

• Prioritize quality over quantity: normally, up to 6 primary descriptors are sufficient.

• Document doubts or inconsistencies for discussion with the network coordination.

• The recommendation is always to validate suggested terms by means of technical reading and checking the guidelines in the LILACS Indexing Manual.

5. Tool limitations

• The tool does not replace the judgment of the indexer.

• It may suggest terms based on linguistic occurrences, but without understanding context or meaning.

• The tool is not based on artificial intelligence and does not perform semantic analysis, for example, it cannot distinguish Catarata (geographic waterfall) from Catarata (eye disease).

• Not all suggested terms will be up to date or correctly contextualized.

Tutorial:

After reading and following the above procedures, click the “Descriptor Suggestion” button.

Analyze whether to include the descriptor as a Primary Descriptor or Secondary Descriptor and select the appropriate option:

To check the scope note and indexing note, or even to include a qualifier, click on the box of the inserted descriptor.

As an example, click on the qualifier’s abbreviation text to insert it into the Descriptors field.

And see the result of the manual editing for including the qualifier:

Result compared to the suggested descriptors:

Review of the suggested descriptors completed.