Sexual Health
Data Augmentation for Sexual Health (DASH)
In January 2005 the Scottish Government launched a national strategy for improving sexual health in Scotland,'Respect and Responsibility: A Strategy and Action Plan for Improving Sexual Health'. The strategy seeks to improve access to information and services whilst allowing flexibility for local services to respond to local needs. The strategy signalled the importance for high quality information relating to sexual health.
The National Sexual Health Advisory Committee (NSHAC) was set up to provide advice on policy and monitor and support the implementation of 'Respect and Responsibility', which included NSHACs 14 aims or 'actions'.
ISD and Health Protection Scotland (HPS) have collaborated to create DASH (Data Augmentation for Sexual Health). This project focuses on sexual health data development to support service planning and redesign by providing information to support and monitor the implementation of two of the NSHACs actions, namely
National Data Collection Framework for Sexual Health
Key Clinical Indicators for Sexual Health (KCIs)
Both of these initiatives will support sexual health services in improving patient care.
Other ongoing work
SSHI Report (Scottish Sexual Health Information)
National Data Collection Framework for Sexual Health
The framework has been developed in order to faciliatate accurate and timely collection of sexual health data where no information currently exists, both in the short and the long term. The main data deficits were identified through consultation with the Lead Clincians for Sexual Health, and the input of sexual health services continues in this process.
The framework is in continuous development, covering varied aspects of sexual health services including those being monitored by the KCIs. Implementation is an integral and ongoing part of the framework.
Publications Schedule (Updated 18th September 2008)
This schedule details sexual health information publications with information on dates and locations of publication.
More details on National Data Collection Framework for Sexual Health here .
Key Clinical Indicators for Sexual Health (KCIs)
The KCIs focus on specific elements of sexual health which have been determined to be particular priorities.
The KCIs are part of the wider quality framework for sexual health. The indicators helped to inform the development of the Quality Improvement Scotland (NHS QIS) Sexual Health Service Standards and also the National Sexual Health System (NaSH) with its associated datasets, developed by the National Clinical Dataset Development Programme (NCDDP).
For more detailed information go to the KCI web page
SSHI Report (Scotland's Sexual Health Information)
An annual STI report has been successfully published by HPS and ISD for a number of years.
In 2005 HPS and ISD published 'Setting the Scene' a report looking at STIs including HIV in Scotland. This was followed by 'Moving Forward ' in 2006. 2007s 'STIOSHI' report (STIs and Other Sexual Health Information) continued the series but was somewhat different to it's predecessors. Additional data was included on other aspects of sexual health, broadening the focus of the report and reflecting the increasingly integrated sexual health services in Scotland.
The annual reports will now be known as the SSHI reports - Scotland's Sexual Health Information. The next report will be published in November 2008.
If you have any queries or would like to contact the DASH project, please email DASH@isd.csa.scot.nhs.uk
DASH Project Manager: Felicity Naughton
DASH
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