How to Review a Delphi Consensus Statement
This 20-minute presentation is a recorded capture from The American Journal of Sports Medicine and the Arthroscopy Journal Reviewers Workshop on July 8, 2021 in Nashville, TN at the AOSSM-AANA Combined Annual Meeting.
Al Getgood, MD, FRCS
Fowler Kennedy Sport Medicine Clinic
London, Ontario, Canada
There have been a growing number of consensus statements submitted to AJSM in the past number of years, many of which use the Delphi methodology. This study design seeks expert opinions in an iterative planned fashion to develop consensus on best practice on a topic beyond existing knowledge or can provide means of dealing with conflicting scientific evidence.
The objective of this talk will be to outline the steps of the Delphi Process giving reviewers a blueprint to work from when critiquing papers that are based upon a Delphi consensus process.
Learning objectives:
1) Understand what a Delphi consensus study is - a process that seeks expert opinions in an iterative planned fashion to develop consensus on best practice on a topic beyond existing knowledge or can provide means of dealing with conflicting scientific evidence.
2) The objective of this session is to outline the steps of the Delphi Process giving reviewers a blueprint to work from when critiquing papers that are based upon a Delphi consensus process.
ACCREDITATION STATEMENT The American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
AMA CREDIT DESIGNATION STATEMENT The American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine designates this enduring material for a maximum of 0.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
CLAIMING CREDIT In order to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ participants must complete the activity and evaluation. Please note that this is an online-only activity. Participants must complete the activity and evaluation online. No hard copy submissions will be accepted.
DISCLOSURE STATEMENT In accordance with the guidelines of the ACCME, it is the policy of the AOSSM that faculty and planners disclose to the learners all financial relationships during the past twelve months with any commercial interest (any entity producing, marketing, re-selling, or distributing health care goods and services consumed by, or used on, patients). In accordance with AOSSM policy, faculty participation is predicated upon timely submission and review of AOSSM disclosures. Non-compliance results in faculty being stricken from the program.
Additional resources for further study:
Jones J, Hunter D. Consensus methods for medical and health services research. BMJ. 1995 Aug 5;311(7001):376-80.
Jünger S, Payne SA, Brine J, Radbruch L, & Brearley SG. Guidance on Conducting and REporting DElphi Studies (CREDES) in palliative care: Recommendations based on a methodological systematic review. Palliative Medicine. 2017. https://doi.org/10.1177/0269216317690685
Diamond, I. R., Grant, R. C., Feldman, B. M., Pencharz, P. B., Ling, S. C., Moore, A. M., & Wales, P. W. (2014). Defining consensus: A systematic review recommends methodologic criteria for reporting of Delphi studies. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinepi.2013.12.002
Schulz, K. F., Altman, D. G., & Moher, D. CONSORT 2010 Statement: Updated guidelines for reporting parallel group randomised trials. BMJ (Online). 2010. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.c332
Delbecq, A. L., Van de Ven, A. H., & Gustafson, D. H. (1986). Group Techniques for Program Planning: a guide to nominal group and Delphi processes.