title: A proposal for an Austrian Nursing Minimum Data Set (NMDS): a Delphi study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Nursing Minimum Data Sets can be used to compare nursing care across clinical populations, settings, geographical areas, and time. NMDS can support nursing research, nursing management, and nursing politics. However, in contrast to other countries, Austria does not have a unified NMDS. The objective of this study is to identify possible data elements for an Austrian NMDS.
  
  
  METHODS
  A two-round Delphi survey was conducted, based on a review of available NMDS, 22 expert interviews, and a focus group discussion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After reaching consensus, the experts proposed the following 56 data elements for an NMDS: six data elements concerning patient demographics, four data elements concerning data of the healthcare institution, four data elements concerning patient's medical condition, 20 data elements concerning patient problems (nursing assessment, nursing diagnoses, risk assessment), eight data elements concerning nursing outcomes, 14 data elements concerning nursing interventions, and no additional data elements concerning nursing intensity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The proposed NMDS focuses on the long-term and acute care setting. It must now be implemented and tested in the nursing practice.
authors.affiliation: Steiermärkische Krankenanstaltengesellschaft m.b.H., Management / Pflege , Austria.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ranegger
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health Informatics, UMIT - University for Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology , Hall in Tirol, Austria.
authors.forename: W O
authors.initials: WO
authors.lastname: Hackl
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health Informatics, UMIT - University for Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology , Hall in Tirol, Austria.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ammenwerth
mesh_terms: D001317:Austria; D003697:Delphi Technique; D003710:Demography; D005104:Expert Testimony; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D009729:Nursing; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D040841:Resource Allocation
keywords: Austria; Nursing minimum data set; health statistics; minimal data set; nursing informatics