The objective of the Common Data Set for Sexual Health (CDSSH) development project is to provide a single standard structure for collecting data on sexual health within the National Health Service.

 

What benefits does CDSSH hope to deliver?

• To provide an aide-memoire to good record-keeping
• To facilitate clinical audit through the collection of a standardised relevant set of information
• To provide an aide-memoire to a suitable minimum set of information to be transferred with the patient when referring a patient for sexual health reasons
• To enable better service planning (via use of a standard set of information and consistent coding)
• To support improvement in a key area of public health, through the collection of a standardised and relevant set of information

• A draft data set was agreed by the project board
• A stakeholder consultation exercise was undertaken
• Small-scale, pilot testing of the data set was carried out in each of the main sexual health service settings - GU services, Community Contraceptive services, Integrated Sexual Health services and General Practice
• The process for getting approval from the NHS Information Standards Board (ISB) for eventual national implementation was started.
•  CDSSH has been approved as an information standard requirement, and, more recently (February 2007) as a Draft Operational Information Standard.  These represent the first two stages of the 3-stage ISB approval process.
• The final stage is to obtain approval as a Full Operational Information Standard.  Clarification of the remaining requirements is currently being discussed with ISB with a view to submission in the second half of 2007.

During Phase 2, a further pilot study will be undertaken with a revised data set. The results of the Phase 1 pilot have, as expected, prompted a review of elements of the data set. The Phase 2 pilot will place greater emphasis on collection and extraction by electronic patient record systems and is expected to start in May.

We Need to Hear From You
Implementing the CDSSH project on a national scale will affect professionals and patients across the health sector. Your comments and feedback will ensure a wide range of views and ideas are considered before final implementation.
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