Client—injecting drug use status, code N

Identifying and definitional attributes
Metadata item type:	Data Element
Short name:	Injecting drug use status
METEOR identifier:	707379
Registration status:	Health, Standard 12/12/2018
Definition:	The client's use of injection as a method of administering drugs, as represented by a code.
Data Element Concept:	Client—injecting drug use status

Value domain attributes

Representational attributes

Representation class:

Code

Data type:

Number

Format:

Maximum character length:

Permissible values:

Value	Meaning
1	Last injected three months ago or less
2	Last injected more than three months ago but less than or equal to twelve months ago
3	Last injected more than twelve months ago
4	Never injected

Supplementary values:

Value	Meaning
9	Not stated/inadequately described

Data element attributes

Collection and usage attributes

Collection methods:

To be collected on commencement of treatment with a service.

For clients whose treatment episode is related to the alcohol and other drug use of another person, this metadata item should not be collected.

Comments:

This metadata item has been developed for use in clinical settings. A code that refers to a three-month period to define 'current' injecting drug use is required as a clinically relevant period of time.

The metadata item may also be used in population surveys that require a longer timeframe, for example to generate 12-month prevalence rates, by aggregating Codes 1 and 2. However, caution must be exercised when comparing clinical samples with population samples.

This metadata item is important for identifying patterns of drug use and harms associated with injecting drug use.