Core Mental Health Data Set (CMHDS) methods feasibility paper

Little research focuses on mechanisms underlying the well-recognised relationship between mental and physical health, or its potential to influence adherence and response to treatments. This short report summarises results of the National Institute for Health and Care Research-funded 'Core Mental Health Data Set (CMHDS)' study to embed a digital tool for routine collection of mental health data in physical health studies.

Four chief investigators of physical health trials were approached to embed the CMHDS into their study. Two trials, one for people receiving specialist cystic fibrosis (CF) care, and the established Salford Kidney Study (SKS) successfully managed to embed CMHDS.

A combined 478 participants from both studies were invited to complete the CMHDS. Of those approached, 88% agreed to complete CMHDS; 44% completed it. In the SKS, people who completed CMHDS were significantly younger and had higher estimated glomerular filtration rates and were from least deprived areas. In the CF study, there was no significant difference in characteristics of participants who did or did not complete the tool.

It was feasible, and researchers and participants considered it acceptable, to embed the CMHDS in physical health studies as part of routine data collection.

Future studies should embed the CMHDS routinely and encourage completion to minimise bias and optimise the added value of having mental health covariates or predictor variables in physical health studies.