an agreed-upon group of outcome domains considered essential to define and report in all clinical trials and other research studies related to a specific health condition or disease. It represents “what to measure,” not “how to measure it.”
At this stage, no specific instruments have been selected to assess the domains. The CDS is developed through systematic evidence review, input from patients and other stakeholders, and formal consensus methods (e.g., Delphi surveys). Establishing a CDS ensures that the most important aspects of health are consistently captured across studies, improving comparability and relevance.
Abbreviation: CDS
Synonyms: Core Outcome Domain Set
Example
The Psoriatic Arthritis Core Domain Set (CDS) includes domains such as pain, skin disease activity, fatigue, and physical function. These domains are considered critically important and must be measured and reported in all clinical trials for psoriatic arthritis to ensure consistent and meaningful outcomes. At this stage, no instruments have been chosen to measure these domains — only the domains themselves have been defined.