Provision of the minimum dataset of asthma for electronic health record

BACKGROUND: Determining the standard data elements for developing an integrated information system is of crucial importance in order to better design electronic health records system at the national level. The aim of the present study was to determine the minimum data elements of asthma for the electronic health record in Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study was an applied research that was conducted in a descriptive method. Minimum dataset (MDS) of asthma in selected countries was assessed through print and electronic literature. Data on MDS of asthma in selected countries were analyzed using comparative tables and determining the common and differentiating features of the dataset. At the validation phase of the model, frequency distribution (number and percentage), median, and quark distortion index of the questions in the questionnaire were analyzed using SPSS and Minitab software. RESULTS: MDS of asthma was categorized into management and clinical classes. Management class had 3 subclasses (demographic, clearance, and insurance-financial) and 12 data elements, whereas clinical class had 4 subclasses (risk factors, diagnosis, treatment, and asthma education to the patient) and 22 data elements. CONCLUSION: The present study showed that some of the essential data elements in the MDS of other countries are needed by organizations or care providers in the country that were not collected. Therefore, a complete list of the minimum data elements set for the health electronic record was created.