Report on the evaluation of the Perinatal National Minimum Data Set (NMDS)

Report

This report presents a comprehensive evaluation of the quality and utility of data collected under the Perinatal National Minimum Data Set. The aim of the evaluation was to determine whether the data collection suits current requirements and to identify changes required to improve data quality and consistency. Recommendations for modifications to existing data elements and proposals for new data elements are discussed.

The report is a useful resource for state and territory data providers, students, researchers, and all other users of data based on this National Minimum Data Set.
 

Summary

The evaluation of the Perinatal National Minimum Data Set (NMDS) was funded by the Australian Health Ministers' Advisory Council (AHMAC), through the National Health Information Group (NHIG). It has been conducted by the AIHW National Perinatal Epidemiology and Statistics Unit (NPESU) in consultation with the National Perinatal Data Development Committee (NPDDC)

The aim of the evaluation was to assess the quality and utility of the NMDS, to determine whether the data collection suits current requirements and to identify changes required to improve data quality and consistency.

The method used for the evaluation included:

• a review of compliance, that is the extent to which data for 2000 were collected and/or provided by states and territories in accordance with NMDS specifications as published in the National Health Data Dictionary (NHDD) Version 8.0;
• a review of utility, based on consultations with data providers and users, using a survey tool designed for a previous NMDS evaluation, of the Admitted Patient Care NMDS; and
• formulation of recommendations for future data development and the assignment of priorities, undertaken by the AIHW NPSU in consultation with the NPDDC.

This report presents a comprehensive evaluation of the quality and utility of data collected under the Perinatal National Minimum Data Set. The aim of the evaluation was to determine whether the data collection suits current requirements and to identify changes required to improve data quality and consistency. Recommendations for modifications to existing data elements and proposals for new data elements are discussed.

The report is a useful resource for state and territory data providers, students, researchers, and all other users of data based on this National Minimum Data Set.