Towards an essential data set for ambulatory otorhinolaryngological care in general practice.

In order to optimize otorhinolaryngological ambulatory care provision and quality assurance in the general practice services there is a need for interdisciplinary consensus on the conditions, the quantitative and qualitative criteria of diagnosis and outcome as well as other standards that apply to such a partnership. We report on the core, or essential set, of data involved herein, as derived from an information modelling study of the literature and a formalized agreement between the public primary health care and specialist otorhinolaryngology organizations in Sweden. We find that the identified essential data set constitutes a compact common taxonomy, term register, or thesaurus, an ordered survey of which provides the necessary performance and quality assurance support. This points to a computerized method of mediation. The essential data set for otorhinolaryngology in general practice thus corresponds to the notion of a basic minimal data set as outlined by the World Health Organization to be one of the requisites for the successful realization of the distinct components of the Health for All by the Year 2000 programme at the local level.