In the complex field of medicine, the need for clear, evidence-based guidelines is crucial to help healthcare professionals navigate clinical decisions. While randomized controlled trials are considered the gold standard for generating evidence that supports guidelines, they can be unpractical and resource intensive. They also lack the ability to generate evidence for a specific context, reflective of clinical reality. Additional evidence-generation tools, such as real-world data studies and expert opinions, can fill this gap. The Delphi method is a valuable tool to generate expert consensus, often be used where empirical evidence is sparse or controversial.
What is the Delphi Method?
The Delphi method is a structured, iterative communication technique that relies on a panel of experts to reach a consensus on a specific topic. Developed by the RAND Corporation, the method aims to harness the collective knowledge and opinions of experts. It involves multiple rounds of surveys where participants provide feedback and revise their opinions based on group responses until consensus is reached.
The essential features of the Delphi method are:
- Anonymity: the identity of participants remains unknown
- Iteration: multiple rounds are conducted to refine opinions
- Controlled Feedback: participants receive summarized responses after each round
- Statistical Aggregation: responses are quantitatively analyzed to determine consensus
The Delphi method also allows for adaptability, as guidelines developed in this way can be revised in response to new evidence or shifts in clinical practice. This ensures that healthcare providers have access to the most up-to-date recommendations.
How does the Delphi Method differ from other consensus methods?
Methods like focus groups or nominal group techniques involve face-to-face discussions where group dynamics can impact the outcome. On the other hand, with the Delphi Method, participants do not interact, limiting the possibility of dominant voices influencing the results. It also means that experts from various locations around the globe can be included in the research, as the process can be supported virtually and asynchronously.
Finally, the iterative rounds in the Delphi process allow experts to reconsider their initial responses based on feedback, leading to more refined and consensus-driven recommendations. This makes the Delphi Method particularly useful for creating clinical or public health guidelines, where broad expert input and careful deliberation are crucial.
The Delphi method has been widely employed for the development of clinical guidelines. Here are some recent examples:
The Delphi method and the prioritization of guidelines development
The Delphi method can also be employed to identify priority areas for guideline development. The method facilitates discussions on the most pressing issues in healthcare and can inform where efforts should be concentrated next when it comes to the creation of guidelines. This ensures that guidelines are reflective of current clinical challenges. For instance, Triducive, recently helped the UK Kidney Association address the lack of standardization in the commissioning and development of clinical practice guidelines in kidney care to help establish a more standardized and effective approach to kidney care guideline development.
As healthcare continues to grow more complex, the Delphi method becomes an increasingly important method to develop evidence-informed, actionable clinical guidelines, improving patient care where traditional evidence is limited. The Delphi method allows for adaptability, as guidelines can be revised in response to new evidence or shifts in clinical practice. This ensures that healthcare providers have access to the most up-to-date recommendations.
At Triducive we deliver consensus-led evidence that gets published and supports change. Our team, with a strong background in healthcare, has been delivering Delphi consensus for over ten years, boasting over fifty peer-reviewed publications, and fostering positive change.
Get in touch with us to learn about our work.