[WWW - 2023.07.31]

Data Element Detail

Person-sex (code)
Identifying and Definitional Attributes
QH 040000 v4
Data Element
Data Element
Current
20-Mar-2018		Superseded
27-Jan-2021
Standard
Information Management Strategic Governance Committee (IMSGC), Queensland Health
20-Mar-2018
27-Jan-2021
Sex refers to a person's biological characteristics. A person's sex is usually described as being either male or female. A person may have both male and female characteristics, or neither male nor female characteristics, or other sexual characteristics.
Clinical and administrative purposes
Sex (code)
Health care client-sex
Representational Attributes
Numeric
Code
N
1
1
Permissible Values

Permissible_values

CodeDescription
1Male
2Female
3Other
Supplementary Values

Supplemenary_values

CodeDescription
9Not stated/inadequately described
Collection and Usage Attributes
Code 1 - Male
Persons who have male or predominantly masculine biological characteristics, or male sex assigned at birth

Code 2 - Female
Persons who have female or predominantly feminine biological characteristics, or female sex assigned at birth.

Code 3 - Other
Persons who have mixed or non-binary biological characteristics (if known), or a non-binary sex assigned at birth.
The value meaning of 'Other' has been assigned to Code 3 for this value domain, which replaces 'Intersex or indeterminate' for the superseded value domain Sex code N. Terms such as 'indeterminate', 'intersex', 'non-binary', and 'unspecified' are variously used to describe the 'Other' category of sex. The label 'Other' is used because a more descriptive term has not been widely agreed within the general community.
Sex refers to the chromosomal, gonadal and anatomical characteristics associated with biological sex. Where there is an inconsistency between anatomical and chromosomal characteristics, sex is based on anatomical characteristics.
The term 'sex' refers to a person's biological characteristics. A person's sex is usually described as being either male or female; some people may have both male and female characteristics, or neither male nor female characteristics, or other sexual characteristics.

Sex is assigned at birth and is relatively fixed. However, a person's sex may change during their lifetime as a result of procedures commonly referred to as sex change, gender reassignment, gender affirmation, transsexual surgery, transgender reassignment or sexual reassignment. Throughout this process, which may be over a considerable period of time, sex may be recorded as either male, female or other.

Collection of sex excludes gender information, which is interrelated but conceptually distinct. The concept of sex is based on the physical or biological aspects of a person's body while the concept of gender relates to the way a person feels, presents and is recognised within the general community and may refer to outward social markers such as their name, outward appearance, mannerisms and dress. Sexual orientation is a separate concept to sex and gender, involving a person's emotional or sexual attraction to another person, and is not covered in the collection of sex information.
In general, both sex and gender should not be collected in a single collection instrument. The Australian Government Guidelines on the Recognition of Sex and Gender recommends the preferred Australian Government approach of collecting and using gender information, with sex only being collected where there is a legitimate need to know the biological characteristics of the target population. It should be recognised that in some cases an individual may choose to report their gender when sex is being requested.
Organisations should ensure when they collect sex and/or gender information they use the correct terminology for the information they are seeking. Male and female are predominantly associated with the set of biological attributes that define the different types of sexes, while masculine and feminine characteristics are predominantly associated with the set of factors that make up gender. However, it should be recognised that male/female and masculine/feminine are sometimes used interchangeably to refer to sex and/or gender
Shall not be blank.

The Oral Health Data Supply Requirement (DSR):
Can be null.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Standard for Sex and Gender Variables includes the following Alternate Code system:
M Male
F Female
X Other

Standard Question Module
For the collection of sex, the following standard tick box question module could be used:
What is your sex? Please [tick/mark/select] one box.
- Male
- Female
- Other, please specify _______________
Mandatory elements
The following elements should be included:
- the word 'sex' in the question to clearly articulate the concept being collected;
- label the response options 'Male', 'Female' and 'Other'; and
- a note that only one response is permitted.
Optional elements
The following elements may be included:
- the response option for 'Other' is labelled 'Other, please specify'; and
- a write-in facility is available when the 'Other' response option is selected.
The inclusion of the write-in facility for 'Other' allows respondents the opportunity to describe their sex using a term they are comfortable with, whilst also maximising the potential for analysis of the responses provided. Where the 'Other' code has been selected for sex, the data element Person-sex, text X[X(99)] may be used to capture any further (optional) specification of sex descriptors.
Allowable variations
Minor variations to the question wording are allowed. For example:
Which of the following describes your sex? Please [tick/mark/select] one box
or
Sex, please [tick/mark/select] one box.
Optional inclusions
Organisations should refrain from making assumptions about a person's sex based on indicators such as their name, voice or appearance. Respondents should be presented with all response options for sex. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Standard for Sex and Gender Variables recommends a standard script explaining the importance of the question. Refer to the ABS standard for explanatory information that can be included in self-completed questionnaires (e.g., web forms and paper forms), or read in face-to-face and telephone interviews. The inclusion of explanatory material is optional and at the discretion of those undertaking the collection.
Supplementary values
CODE 9 Not stated/inadequately described
This supplementary value is used to code inadequately described responses and non-responses for sex. It is not to be used on primary collection forms. It is primarily for use in administrative collections when transferring data from data sets where the item has not been collected.

Queensland Opioid Treatment Program (QOTP) Admission Data Supply Requirement (DSR): Data is collected by completing the Queensland Opioid Treatment Program (QOTP) Admission/Discharge form. Provide the Client's family name as indicated on the Queensland Opioid Treatment Program (QOTP) Admission/Discharge form.
Relational Attributes
Related Metadata References

Related Metadata References_IR

  • 1 - 5
ViewRelationshipMetadata Item TypeMetadata Item SubtypeNameIdentifier & VersionApproval Status
SupersedesData ElementData ElementPerson-sexQH 040000 Version 3Superseded
Has been superseded byData ElementData ElementPerson-sex (code)QH 040000 Version 5Superseded
Is used in the derivation ofData ElementDerived Data ElementEpisode of admitted patient care-diagnosis related group (AR-DRG v10.0)QH 041587 Version 11Current
Is used in the derivation ofData ElementDerived Data ElementEpisode of admitted patient care-major diagnostic category (AR-DRG v10.0)QH 041588 Version 11Current
Relates toData ElementData ElementPerson-sex (QHAPDC)QH 042431 Version 2Current
Implementation in Metadata Sets

Implemented

  • 1 - 15
ViewMetadata Item TypeMetadata Item SubtypeNameIdentifer & VersionObligationApproval StatusEffective FromEffective To
Information AssetData CollectionElective Surgery Data Collection (ESDC)QH 020110 Version 2MandatoryCurrent01-Jul-201927-Jan-2021
Information AssetData CollectionElective Surgery Data Collection (ESDC)QH 020110 Version 1MandatorySuperseded20-Mar-201830-Jun-2019
Data Supply RequirementHHS Service AgreementElective Surgery Waiting List Census Data Supply Requirement (DSR) 2018-2019QH 020427 Version 1MandatorySuperseded01-Jul-201830-Jun-2019
Data Supply RequirementHHS Service AgreementElective Surgery Waiting List Census Data Supply Requirement (DSR) 2019-2020QH 020568 Version 1MandatorySuperseded01-Jul-201930-Jun-2020
Data Supply RequirementHHS Service AgreementElective Surgery Waiting List Census Data Supply Requirement (DSR) 2020-2021QH 020682 Version 1MandatoryCurrent01-Jul-202027-Jan-2021
Data Supply RequirementHHS Service AgreementElective Surgery Waiting List Removals Data Supply Requirement (DSR) 2018-2019QH 020429 Version 1MandatorySuperseded01-Jul-201830-Jun-2019
Data Supply RequirementHHS Service AgreementElective Surgery Waiting List Removals Data Supply Requirement (DSR) 2019-2020QH 020567 Version 1MandatorySuperseded01-Jul-201930-Jun-2020
Data Supply RequirementHHS Service AgreementElective Surgery Waiting List Removals Data Supply Requirement (DSR) 2020-2021QH 020683 Version 1MandatoryCurrent01-Jul-202027-Jan-2021
Information AssetData CollectionEmergency Data Collection (EDC)QH 020159 Version 2MandatoryCurrent01-Jul-201927-Jan-2021
Information AssetData CollectionEmergency Data Collection (EDC)QH 020159 Version 1MandatorySuperseded20-Mar-201830-Jun-2019
Data Supply RequirementHHS Service AgreementEmergency Data Collection (EDC) Data Supply Requirement (DSR) 2018-2019QH 020431 Version 1MandatorySuperseded01-Jul-201830-Jun-2019
Data Supply RequirementHHS Service AgreementGastrointestinal Endoscopy (GIE)-Removals Data Supply Requirement (DSR) 2018-2019QH 020432 Version 1MandatorySuperseded01-Jul-201830-Jun-2019
Data Supply RequirementHHS Service AgreementGastrointestinal Endoscopy (GIE)-Removals Data Supply Requirement (DSR) 2019-2020QH 020563 Version 1MandatorySuperseded01-Jul-201930-Jun-2020
Data Supply RequirementHHS Service AgreementGastrointestinal Endoscopy (GIE)-Removals Data Supply Requirement (DSR) 2020-2021QH 020685 Version 1MandatoryCurrent01-Jul-202027-Jan-2021
Data Supply RequirementHHS Service AgreementGastrointestinal Endoscopy (GIE)-Waiting Data Supply Requirement (DSR) 2017-2018QH 020626 Version 1MandatorySuperseded20-Mar-201830-Jun-2021
Source and Reference Attributes
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare; Australian Bureau of Statistics 2016; Attorney-General's Department 2015
METeOR data element: Person-sex, code X, Identifier 635126, Health standard 11/05/2017 https://meteor.aihw.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/635126/meteorItemView/long
Standard for Sex and Gender Variables (Cat. no. 1200.0.55.012)
Australian Government Guidelines on the Recognition of Sex and Gender
Gender; Sex - client;