Argonaut Questionnaire Implementation Guide (Release 1.0.0 )

This page is part of the Argonaut Questionnaire Implementation Guide (v1.0.0: Release) based on FHIR R3. This is the current published version. For a full list of available versions, see the Directory of published versions

Definitions for the StructureDefinition-argo-questionnaire Profile.

1. Questionnaire
Definition

A structured set of questions intended to guide the collection of answers from end-users. Questionnaires provide detailed control over order, presentation, phraseology and grouping to allow coherent, consistent data collection.

Control0..*
Alternate NamesForm, CRF, Survey
InvariantsDefined on this element
dom-1: If the resource is contained in another resource, it SHALL NOT contain any narrative (: contained.text.empty())
dom-2: If the resource is contained in another resource, it SHALL NOT contain nested Resources (: contained.contained.empty())
dom-3: If the resource is contained in another resource, it SHALL be referred to from elsewhere in the resource (: contained.where(('#'+id in %resource.descendants().reference).not()).empty())
dom-4: If a resource is contained in another resource, it SHALL NOT have a meta.versionId or a meta.lastUpdated (: contained.meta.versionId.empty() and contained.meta.lastUpdated.empty())
que-2: The link ids for groups and questions must be unique within the questionnaire (: descendants().linkId.isDistinct())
2. Questionnaire.id
Definition

The logical id of the resource, as used in the URL for the resource. Once assigned, this value never changes.

Control0..1
Typeid
Comments

The only time that a resource does not have an id is when it is being submitted to the server using a create operation.

3. Questionnaire.meta
Definition

The metadata about the resource. This is content that is maintained by the infrastructure. Changes to the content may not always be associated with version changes to the resource.

Control0..1
TypeMeta
4. Questionnaire.implicitRules
Definition

A reference to a set of rules that were followed when the resource was constructed, and which must be understood when processing the content.

Control0..1
Typeuri
Is Modifiertrue
Comments

Asserting this rule set restricts the content to be only understood by a limited set of trading partners. This inherently limits the usefulness of the data in the long term. However, the existing health eco-system is highly fractured, and not yet ready to define, collect, and exchange data in a generally computable sense. Wherever possible, implementers and/or specification writers should avoid using this element.

This element is labelled as a modifier because the implicit rules may provide additional knowledge about the resource that modifies it's meaning or interpretation.

5. Questionnaire.language
Definition

The base language in which the resource is written.

Control0..1
BindingA human language.
The codes SHALL be taken from Common Languages; other codes may be used where these codes are not suitable
Max Binding: All Languages
Typecode
Comments

Language is provided to support indexing and accessibility (typically, services such as text to speech use the language tag). The html language tag in the narrative applies to the narrative. The language tag on the resource may be used to specify the language of other presentations generated from the data in the resource Not all the content has to be in the base language. The Resource.language should not be assumed to apply to the narrative automatically. If a language is specified, it should it also be specified on the div element in the html (see rules in HTML5 for information about the relationship between xml:lang and the html lang attribute).

6. Questionnaire.text
Definition

A human-readable narrative that contains a summary of the resource, and may be used to represent the content of the resource to a human. The narrative need not encode all the structured data, but is required to contain sufficient detail to make it "clinically safe" for a human to just read the narrative. Resource definitions may define what content should be represented in the narrative to ensure clinical safety.

Control0..1 This element is affected by the following invariants: dom-1
TypeNarrative
Alternate Namesnarrative, html, xhtml, display
Comments

Contained resources do not have narrative. Resources that are not contained SHOULD have a narrative. In some cases, a resource may only have text with little or no additional discrete data (as long as all minOccurs=1 elements are satisfied). This may be necessary for data from legacy systems where information is captured as a "text blob" or where text is additionally entered raw or narrated and encoded in formation is added later.

7. Questionnaire.contained
Definition

A value set specifies a set of codes drawn from one or more code systems.

Control0..*
TypeValueSet(argo_questionnaire_valueset)
Must Supporttrue
Requirements

The contained Valuesets are referenced when using the .options element.

Comments

This should never be done when the content can be identified properly, as once identification is lost, it is extremely difficult (and context dependent) to restore it again.

InvariantsDefined on this element
dom-1: If the resource is contained in another resource, it SHALL NOT contain any narrative (: contained.text.empty())
dom-2: If the resource is contained in another resource, it SHALL NOT contain nested Resources (: contained.contained.empty())
dom-3: If the resource is contained in another resource, it SHALL be referred to from elsewhere in the resource (: contained.where(('#'+id in %resource.descendants().reference).not()).empty())
dom-4: If a resource is contained in another resource, it SHALL NOT have a meta.versionId or a meta.lastUpdated (: contained.meta.versionId.empty() and contained.meta.lastUpdated.empty())
vsd-5: Value set SHALL contain at least one of a compose or an expansion element (: compose.exists() or expansion.exists())
8. Questionnaire.extension
Definition

An Extension

Control0..*
TypeExtension
9. Questionnaire.extension:q-timeLimit
Definition

An Extension

Control0..1
TypeExtension(argonaut_questionnaire_time_limit) (Extension Type: Duration)
Must Supporttrue
10. Questionnaire.modifierExtension
Definition

May be used to represent additional information that is not part of the basic definition of the resource, and that modifies the understanding of the element that contains it. Usually modifier elements provide negation or qualification. In order to make the use of extensions safe and manageable, there is a strict set of governance applied to the definition and use of extensions. Though any implementer is allowed to define an extension, there is a set of requirements that SHALL be met as part of the definition of the extension. Applications processing a resource are required to check for modifier extensions.

Control0..*
TypeExtension
Is Modifiertrue
Alternate Namesextensions, user content
Comments

There can be no stigma associated with the use of extensions by any application, project, or standard - regardless of the institution or jurisdiction that uses or defines the extensions. The use of extensions is what allows the FHIR specification to retain a core level of simplicity for everyone.

11. Questionnaire.url
Definition

An absolute URI that is used to identify this questionnaire when it is referenced in a specification, model, design or an instance. This SHALL be a URL, SHOULD be globally unique, and SHOULD be an address at which this questionnaire is (or will be) published. The URL SHOULD include the major version of the questionnaire. For more information see Technical and Business Versions.

Control1..1
Typeuri
Must Supporttrue
Requirements

This is the id that will be used to link a QuestionnaireResponse to the Questionnaire .

Comments

Can be a urn:uuid: or a urn:oid:, but real http: addresses are preferred. Multiple instances may share the same url if they have a distinct version.

12. Questionnaire.identifier
Definition

A formal identifier that is used to identify this questionnaire when it is represented in other formats, or referenced in a specification, model, design or an instance.

NoteThis is a business identifier, not a resource identifier (see discussion)
Control0..*
TypeIdentifier
Requirements

Allows externally provided and/or usable business identifiers to be easily associated with the module.

Comments

Typically, this is used for identifiers that can go in an HL7 V3 II (instance identifier) data type, e.g., to identify this questionnaire outside of FHIR, where it is not possible to use the logical URI.

13. Questionnaire.version
Definition

The identifier that is used to identify this version of the questionnaire when it is referenced in a specification, model, design or instance. This is an arbitrary value managed by the questionnaire author and is not expected to be globally unique. For example, it might be a timestamp (e.g. yyyymmdd) if a managed version is not available. There is also no expectation that versions can be placed in a lexicographical sequence.

NoteThis is a business versionId, not a resource version id (see discussion)
Control0..1
Typestring
Must Supporttrue
Comments

There may be different questionnaire instances that have the same identifier but different versions. The version can be appended to the url in a reference to allow a refrence to a particular business version of the questionnaire with the format [url]|[version].

14. Questionnaire.name
Definition

A natural language name identifying the questionnaire. This name should be usable as an identifier for the module by machine processing applications such as code generation.

Control0..1
Typestring
Requirements

Support human navigation and code generation.

Comments

The name is not expected to be globally unique. The name should be a simple alpha-numeric type name to ensure that it is computable friendly.

15. Questionnaire.title
Definition

A short, descriptive, user-friendly title for the questionnaire.

Control1..1
Typestring
Must Supporttrue
Comments

This name does not need to be machine-processing friendly and may contain punctuation, white-space, etc.

16. Questionnaire.status
Definition

The status of this questionnaire. Enables tracking the life-cycle of the content.

Control1..1
BindingThe lifecycle status of a Value Set or Concept Map.
The codes SHALL be taken from PublicationStatus
Typecode
Is Modifiertrue
Must Supporttrue
Comments

Allows filtering of questionnaires that are appropriate for use vs. not.
This is labeled as "Is Modifier" because applications should not use a retired questionnaire without due consideration.

17. Questionnaire.experimental
Definition

A boolean value to indicate that this questionnaire is authored for testing purposes (or education/evaluation/marketing), and is not intended to be used for genuine usage.

Control0..1
Typeboolean
Is Modifiertrue
Requirements

Enables experimental content to be developed following the same lifecycle that would be used for a production-level questionnaire.

Comments

Allows filtering of questionnaire that are appropriate for use vs. not. This is labeled as "Is Modifier" because applications should not use an experimental questionnaire in production.

18. Questionnaire.date
Definition

The date (and optionally time) when the questionnaire was published. The date must change if and when the business version changes and it must change if the status code changes. In addition, it should change when the substantive content of the questionnaire changes.

Control0..1
TypedateTime
Alternate NamesRevision Date
Comments

Note that this is not the same as the resource last-modified-date, since the resource may be a secondary representation of the questionnaire. Additional specific dates may be added as extensions or be found by consulting Provenances associated with past versions of the resource.

19. Questionnaire.publisher
Definition

The name of the individual or organization that published the questionnaire.

Control0..1
Typestring
Must Supporttrue
Requirements

Helps establish the "authority/credibility" of the questionnaire. May also allow for contact.

Comments

Usually an organization, but may be an individual. The publisher (or steward) of the questionnaire is the organization or individual primarily responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the questionnaire. This is not necessarily the same individual or organization that developed and initially authored the content. The publisher is the primary point of contact for questions or issues with the questionnaire. This item SHOULD be populated unless the information is available from context.

20. Questionnaire.description
Definition

A free text natural language description of the questionnaire from a consumer's perspective.

Control0..1
Typemarkdown
Must Supporttrue
Comments

This description can be used to capture details such as why the questionnaire was built, comments about misuse, instructions for clinical use and interpretation, literature references, examples from the paper world, etc. It is not a rendering of the questionnaire as conveyed in the 'text' field of the resource itself. This item SHOULD be populated unless the information is available from context (e.g. the language of the profile is presumed to be the predominant language in the place the profile was created).

21. Questionnaire.purpose
Definition

Explaination of why this questionnaire is needed and why it has been designed as it has.

Control0..1
Typemarkdown
Comments

This element does not describe the usage of the questionnaire Instead it provides traceability of ''why'' the resource is either needed or ''why'' it is defined as it is. This may be used to point to source materials or specifications that drove the structure of this questionnaire.

22. Questionnaire.approvalDate
Definition

The date on which the resource content was approved by the publisher. Approval happens once when the content is officially approved for usage.

Control0..1
Typedate
Comments

The 'date' element may be more recent than the approval date because of minor changes / editorial corrections.

23. Questionnaire.lastReviewDate
Definition

The date on which the resource content was last reviewed. Review happens periodically after approval, but doesn't change the original approval date.

Control0..1
Typedate
Requirements

Gives a sense of how "current" the content is. Resources that have not been reviewed in a long time may have a risk of being less appropriate/relevant.

Comments

If specified, this is usually after the approval date.

24. Questionnaire.effectivePeriod
Definition

The period during which the questionnaire content was or is planned to be in active use.

Control0..1
TypePeriod
Requirements

Allows establishing a transition before a resource comes into effect and also allows for a sunsetting process when new versions of a the questionnaire are or are expected to be used instead.

Comments

The effective period for a questionnaire determines when the content is applicable for usage and is independent of publication and review dates. For example, a measure intended to be used for the year 2016 might be published in 2015.

25. Questionnaire.useContext
Definition

The content was developed with a focus and intent of supporting the contexts that are listed. These terms may be used to assist with indexing and searching for appropriate questionnaire instances.

Control0..*
TypeUsageContext
Must Supporttrue
Requirements

Assist in searching for appropriate content.

Comments

When multiple useContexts are specified, there is no expectation whether all or any of the contexts apply.

26. Questionnaire.jurisdiction
Definition

A legal or geographic region in which the questionnaire is intended to be used.

Control0..*
BindingCountries and regions within which this artifact is targeted for use
The codes SHALL be taken from Jurisdiction ValueSet; other codes may be used where these codes are not suitable
TypeCodeableConcept
Comments

It may be possible for the questionnaire to be used in jurisdictions other than those for which it was originally designed or intended.

27. Questionnaire.contact
Definition

Contact details to assist a user in finding and communicating with the publisher.

Control0..*
TypeContactDetail
Comments

May be a web site, an email address, a telephone number, etc.

28. Questionnaire.copyright
Definition

A copyright statement relating to the questionnaire and/or its contents. Copyright statements are generally legal restrictions on the use and publishing of the questionnaire.

Control0..1
Typemarkdown
Requirements

Consumers must be able to determine any legal restrictions on the use of the questionnaire and/or its content.

Alternate NamesLicense, Restrictions
29. Questionnaire.code
Definition

An identifier for this question or group of questions in a particular terminology such as LOINC.

Control0..*
BindingCodes for questionnaires, groups and individual questions
For example codes, see Questionnaire Question Codes
TypeCoding
Requirements

Allows linking of the complete Questionnaire resources to formal terminologies. It's common for "panels" of questions to be identified by a code.

30. Questionnaire.subjectType
Definition

The types of subjects that can be the subject of responses created for the questionnaire.

Control0..*
BindingOne of the resource types defined as part of FHIR.
The codes SHALL be taken from ResourceType
Typecode
Comments

If none are specified, then the subject is unlimited.

31. Questionnaire.item
Definition

A particular question, question grouping or display text that is part of the questionnaire.

Control0..* This element is affected by the following invariants: que-3
TypeBackboneElement
Must Supporttrue
Comments

The content of the questionnaire is constructed from an ordered, hierarchical collection of items.

InvariantsDefined on this element
ele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (: hasValue() | (children().count() > id.count()))
que-1: Group items must have nested items, display items cannot have nested items (: (type='group' implies item.empty().not()) and (type.trace('type')='display' implies item.trace('item').empty()))
que-10: Maximum length can only be declared for simple question types (: (type in ('boolean' | 'decimal' | 'integer' | 'string' | 'text' | 'url')) or maxLength.empty())
que-3: Display items cannot have a "code" asserted (: type!='display' or code.empty())
que-4: A question cannot have both option and options (: option.empty() or options.empty())
que-5: Only 'choice' items can have options (: (type ='choice' or type = 'open-choice') or (options.empty() and option.empty()))
que-6: Required and repeat aren't permitted for display items (: type!='display' or (required.empty() and repeats.empty()))
que-8: Default values can't be specified for groups or display items (: (type!='group' and type!='display') or initial.empty())
que-9: Read-only can't be specified for "display" items (: type!='display' or readOnly.empty())
32. Questionnaire.item.id
Definition

unique id for the element within a resource (for internal references). This may be any string value that does not contain spaces.

Control0..1
Typestring
33. Questionnaire.item.extension
Definition

An Extension

Control0..*
TypeExtension
34. Questionnaire.item.extension:item-timeLimit
Definition

An Extension

Control0..1
TypeExtension(argonaut_questionnaire_time_limit) (Extension Type: Duration)
Must Supporttrue
35. Questionnaire.item.extension:item-hidden
Definition

If true, indicates that the extended item should not be displayed to the user.

Control0..1 This element is affected by the following invariants: ele-1
TypeExtension(hidden) (Extension Type: boolean)
Must Supporttrue
Comments

If an item is hidden, all descendant items are hidden as well.

InvariantsDefined on this element
ele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (: hasValue() | (children().count() > id.count()))
ext-1: Must have either extensions or value[x], not both (: extension.exists() != value.exists())
36. Questionnaire.item.extension:item-value
Definition

A numeric value that allows the comparison (less than, greater than) or other numerical manipulation of a concept (e.g. adding up components of a score).

Control0..1 This element is affected by the following invariants: ele-1
TypeExtension(ordinalValue) (Extension Type: decimal)
Must Supporttrue
InvariantsDefined on this element
ele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (: hasValue() | (children().count() > id.count()))
ext-1: Must have either extensions or value[x], not both (: extension.exists() != value.exists())
37. Questionnaire.item.extension:item-order
Definition

An Extension

Control0..1
TypeExtension(extension_item_order) (Extension Type: integer)
Must Supporttrue
38. Questionnaire.item.modifierExtension
Definition

May be used to represent additional information that is not part of the basic definition of the element, and that modifies the understanding of the element that contains it. Usually modifier elements provide negation or qualification. In order to make the use of extensions safe and manageable, there is a strict set of governance applied to the definition and use of extensions. Though any implementer is allowed to define an extension, there is a set of requirements that SHALL be met as part of the definition of the extension. Applications processing a resource are required to check for modifier extensions.

Control0..*
TypeExtension
Is Modifiertrue
Alternate Namesextensions, user content, modifiers
Comments

There can be no stigma associated with the use of extensions by any application, project, or standard - regardless of the institution or jurisdiction that uses or defines the extensions. The use of extensions is what allows the FHIR specification to retain a core level of simplicity for everyone.

39. Questionnaire.item.linkId
Definition

An identifier that is unique within the Questionnaire allowing linkage to the equivalent item in a QuestionnaireResponse resource.

Control1..1
Typestring
Must Supporttrue
Requirements

QuestionnaireResponse does not require omitted items to be included and may have some items that repeat, so linkage based on position alone is not sufficient.

Comments

This ''can'' be a meaningful identifier (e.g. a LOINC code) but is not intended to have any meaning. GUIDs or sequential numbers are appropriate here.

40. Questionnaire.item.definition
Definition

A reference to an ElementDefinition that provides the details for the item. If a definition is provided, then the following element values can be inferred from the definition:

  • code (ElementDefinition.code)
  • type (ElementDefinition.type)
  • required (ElementDefinition.min)
  • repeats (ElementDefinition.max)
  • maxLength (ElementDefinition.maxLength)
  • options (ElementDefinition.binding)

Any information provided in these elements on a Questionnaire Item overrides the information from the definition.

Control0..1
Typeuri
Requirements

A common pattern is to define a set of data elements and then build multiple questionnaires for different circumstances to gather the data. This element provides traceability to the common definition and allows the content for the question to come from the underlying definition.

Comments

the URI refers to an ElementDefinition in either a StructureDefinition or a DataElement, and always starts with the canonical URL for the target resource. When referring to a StructureDefinition, a fragment identifier is used to specify the element definition by its id Element.id. E.g. http://hl7.org/fhir/StructureDefinition/Observation#Observation.value[x]. In the absence of a fragment identifier, the first/root element definition in the target is the matching element definition. Note that LOINC codes implicitly define DataElement resources.

41. Questionnaire.item.code
Definition

A terminology code that corresponds to this group or question (e.g. a code from LOINC, which defines many questions and answers).

Control0..* This element is affected by the following invariants: que-3
BindingCodes for questionnaires, groups and individual questions
For example codes, see Questionnaire Question Codes
TypeCoding
Must Supporttrue
Requirements

Allows linking of groups of questions to formal terminologies.

Comments

The value may come from the ElementDefinition referred to by .definition.

42. Questionnaire.item.prefix
Definition

A short label for a particular group, question or set of display text within the questionnaire used for reference by the individual completing the questionnaire.

Control0..1
Typestring
Must Supporttrue
Requirements

Separating the label from the question text allows improved rendering. Also, instructions will often refer to specific prefixes, so there's a need for the questionnaire design to have control over what labels are used.

Alternate Nameslabel
Comments

These are generally unique within a questionnaire, though this is not guaranteed. Some questionnaires may have multiple questions with the same label with logic to control which gets exposed.

Typically these won't be used for "display" items, though such use is not prohibited.

Systems SHOULD NOT generate their own prefixes if prefixes are defined for any items within a Questionnaire.

43. Questionnaire.item.text
Definition

The name of a section, the text of a question or text content for a display item.

Control0..1
Typestring
Must Supporttrue
44. Questionnaire.item.type
Definition

The type of questionnaire item this is - whether text for display, a grouping of other items or a particular type of data to be captured (string, integer, coded choice, etc.).

Control1..1
BindingDistinguishes groups from questions and display text and indicates data type for questions
The codes SHALL be taken from QuestionnaireItemType
Typecode
Must Supporttrue
Requirements

Defines the format in which the user is to be prompted for the answer.

Comments

Additional constraints on the type of answer can be conveyed by extensions. The value may come from the ElementDefinition referred to by .definition.

45. Questionnaire.item.enableWhen
Definition

A constraint indicating that this item should only be enabled (displayed/allow answers to be captured) when the specified condition is true.

Control0..*
TypeBackboneElement
Is Modifiertrue
Requirements

Allows questionnaires to adapt based on answers to other questions. E.g. If physical gender is specified as a male, no need to capture pregnancy history. Also allows conditional display of instructions or groups of questions.

Comments

If multiple repetitions of this extension are present, the item should be enabled when the condition for any of the repetitions is true. I.e. treat "enableWhen"s as being joined by an "or" clause.

This element is a modifier because if enableWhen is present for an item, "required" is ignored unless one of the enableWhen conditions is met.

InvariantsDefined on this element
ele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (: hasValue() | (children().count() > id.count()))
que-7: enableWhen must contain either a 'answer' or a 'hasAnswer' element (: hasAnswer.exists() xor answer.exists())
46. Questionnaire.item.enableWhen.id
Definition

unique id for the element within a resource (for internal references). This may be any string value that does not contain spaces.

Control0..1
Typestring
47. Questionnaire.item.enableWhen.extension
Definition

May be used to represent additional information that is not part of the basic definition of the element. In order to make the use of extensions safe and manageable, there is a strict set of governance applied to the definition and use of extensions. Though any implementer is allowed to define an extension, there is a set of requirements that SHALL be met as part of the definition of the extension.

Control0..*
TypeExtension
Alternate Namesextensions, user content
Comments

There can be no stigma associated with the use of extensions by any application, project, or standard - regardless of the institution or jurisdiction that uses or defines the extensions. The use of extensions is what allows the FHIR specification to retain a core level of simplicity for everyone.

48. Questionnaire.item.enableWhen.modifierExtension
Definition

May be used to represent additional information that is not part of the basic definition of the element, and that modifies the understanding of the element that contains it. Usually modifier elements provide negation or qualification. In order to make the use of extensions safe and manageable, there is a strict set of governance applied to the definition and use of extensions. Though any implementer is allowed to define an extension, there is a set of requirements that SHALL be met as part of the definition of the extension. Applications processing a resource are required to check for modifier extensions.

Control0..*
TypeExtension
Is Modifiertrue
Alternate Namesextensions, user content, modifiers
Comments

There can be no stigma associated with the use of extensions by any application, project, or standard - regardless of the institution or jurisdiction that uses or defines the extensions. The use of extensions is what allows the FHIR specification to retain a core level of simplicity for everyone.

49. Questionnaire.item.enableWhen.question
Definition

The linkId for the question whose answer (or lack of answer) governs whether this item is enabled.

Control1..1
Typestring
Comments

If multiple question occurrences are present for the same question (same linkId), then this refers to the nearest question occurrence reachable by tracing first the "ancestor" axis and then the "preceding" axis and then the "following" axis.

50. Questionnaire.item.enableWhen.hasAnswer
Definition

An indication that this item should be enabled only if the specified question is answered (hasAnswer=true) or not answered (hasAnswer=false).

Control0..1 This element is affected by the following invariants: que-7
Typeboolean
Comments

If answered=false and answer values are also provided, then they are treated as "or". I.e. "Enable if the question is unanswered or the answer is one of the specified values". If answered=true and answers are present, one of the specified answers must be met. (So there's little reason to specify answered=true if answers are present.).

51. Questionnaire.item.enableWhen.answer[x]
Definition

An answer that the referenced question must match in order for the item to be enabled.

Control0..1 This element is affected by the following invariants: que-7
BindingAllowed values to answer questions.
For example codes, see Questionnaire Answer Codes
TypeChoice of: boolean, decimal, integer, date, dateTime, time, string, uri, Attachment, Coding, Quantity, Reference(Resource)
[x] NoteSee Choice of Data Types for further information about how to use [x]
Comments

Multiple answers are treated as "or". E.g. Enable if question 1 = A, C or E.

Components not specified in the answer do not need to match. For example, if enableWhen specifies code + system for a Coding, it is ok if the answer has a "display" element. I.e. treat the answer as a 'pattern'.

The dataType of this element must be the same as the data type of the question being referenced.

52. Questionnaire.item.required
Definition

An indication, if true, that the item must be present in a "completed" QuestionnaireResponse. If false, the item may be skipped when answering the questionnaire.

Control0..1 This element is affected by the following invariants: que-6
Typeboolean
Must Supporttrue
Comments

Questionnaire.item.required only has meaning for elements that are conditionally enabled with enableWhen if the condition evaluates to true. If an item that contains other items is marked as required, that does not automatically make the contained elements required (though required groups must contain at least one child element). The value may come from the ElementDefinition referred to by .definition.

Default Valuefalse
53. Questionnaire.item.repeats
Definition

An indication, if true, that the item may occur multiple times in the response, collecting multiple answers answers for questions or multiple sets of answers for groups.

Control0..1 This element is affected by the following invariants: que-6
Typeboolean
Must Supporttrue
Requirements

Items may be used to create set of (related) questions that can be repeated to give multiple answers to such a set.

Comments

If a question is marked as repeats=true, then multiple answers can be provided for the question in the corresponding QuestionnaireResponse. When rendering the questionnaire, it is up to the rendering software whether to render the question text for each answer repetition or to simply list each of the answers beneath the question. (Which is most appropriate visually may depend on the type of answer as well as whether there are nested items.). The value may come from the ElementDefinition referred to by .definition.

Default Valuefalse
54. Questionnaire.item.readOnly
Definition

An indication, when true, that the value cannot be changed by a human respondent to the Questionnaire.

Control0..1 This element is affected by the following invariants: que-9
Typeboolean
Must Supporttrue
Requirements

Allows certain information to be phrased (and rendered) as a question and an answer, while keeping users from changing it. May also be useful for preventing changes to pre-populated portions of a questionnaire, for calculated values, etc.

Comments

The value of readOnly elements can be established by asserting extensions for defaultValues, linkages that support pre-population and/or extensions that support calculation based on other answers.

55. Questionnaire.item.maxLength
Definition

The maximum number of characters that are permitted in the answer to be considered a "valid" QuestionnaireResponse.

Control0..1 This element is affected by the following invariants: que-10
Typeinteger
Comments

For base64binary, reflects the number of characters representing the encoded data, not the number of bytes of the binary data. The value may come from the ElementDefinition referred to by .definition.

56. Questionnaire.item.options
Definition

A reference to a value set containing a list of codes representing permitted answers for a "choice" or "open-choice" question.

Control0..1 This element is affected by the following invariants: que-4, que-5
TypeReference(ValueSet)
Must Supporttrue
Comments

When used, references the contained ValueSets.

InvariantsDefined on this element
q-1: SHALL be a reference to a contained valueset. (: reference.startsWith('#'))
57. Questionnaire.item.option
Definition

One of the permitted answers for a "choice" or "open-choice" question.

Control0..* This element is affected by the following invariants: que-4, que-5
TypeBackboneElement
Must Supporttrue
Comments

This element can be used when the value set machinery of options is deemed too cumbersome or when there's a need to capture options that are not codes.

InvariantsDefined on this element
ele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (: hasValue() | (children().count() > id.count()))
58. Questionnaire.item.option.id
Definition

unique id for the element within a resource (for internal references). This may be any string value that does not contain spaces.

Control0..1
Typestring
59. Questionnaire.item.option.extension
Definition

An Extension

Control0..*
TypeExtension
60. Questionnaire.item.option.extension:option-value
Definition

A numeric value that allows the comparison (less than, greater than) or other numerical manipulation of a concept (e.g. adding up components of a score).

Control0..1 This element is affected by the following invariants: ele-1
TypeExtension(ordinalValue) (Extension Type: decimal)
Must Supporttrue
InvariantsDefined on this element
ele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (: hasValue() | (children().count() > id.count()))
ext-1: Must have either extensions or value[x], not both (: extension.exists() != value.exists())
61. Questionnaire.item.option.extension:option-order
Definition

An Extension

Control0..1
TypeExtension(extension_item_order) (Extension Type: integer)
Must Supporttrue
62. Questionnaire.item.option.modifierExtension
Definition

An Extension

Control0..*
TypeExtension
Is Modifiertrue
63. Questionnaire.item.option.modifierExtension:option-exclusive
Definition

If true, indicates that if this option is selected, no other options may be selected, even if the item is a repeating question.

Control0..1 This element is affected by the following invariants: ele-1
TypeExtension(optionExclusive) (Extension Type: boolean)
Is Modifiertrue
Must Supporttrue
InvariantsDefined on this element
ele-1: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children (: hasValue() | (children().count() > id.count()))
ext-1: Must have either extensions or value[x], not both (: extension.exists() != value.exists())
64. Questionnaire.item.option.value[x]
Definition

A potential answer that's allowed as the answer to this question.

Control1..1
BindingAllowed values to answer questions.
For example codes, see Questionnaire Answer Codes
TypeChoice of: integer, date, time, string, Coding
[x] NoteSee Choice of Data Types for further information about how to use [x]
Must Supporttrue
Comments

The data type of the value must agree with the item.type.

65. Questionnaire.item.initial[x]
Definition

The value that should be defaulted when initially rendering the questionnaire for user input.

Control0..1 This element is affected by the following invariants: que-8
BindingAllowed values to answer questions.
For example codes, see Questionnaire Answer Codes
TypeChoice of: boolean, decimal, integer, date, dateTime, time, string, uri, Attachment, Coding, Quantity, Reference(Resource)
[x] NoteSee Choice of Data Types for further information about how to use [x]
Requirements

In some workflows, having defaults saves time.

Comments

The user is allowed to change the value and override the default (unless marked as read-only). If the user doesn't change the value, then this initial value will be persisted when the QuestionnaireResponse is initially created. Note that default values can influence results.

The data type of initial[x] must agree with the item.type.

66. Questionnaire.item.item
Definition

Text, questions and other groups to be nested beneath a question or group.

Control0..* This element is affected by the following invariants: que-1
TypeSee Questionnaire.item
Must Supporttrue
Requirements

Reports can consist of complex nested groups.

Comments

There is no specified limit to the depth of nesting. However, Questionnaire authors are encouraged to consider the impact on the user and user interface of overly deep nesting.