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The Delphi Method in Healthcare

The Delphi method: A technique to generate and publish evidence that supports positive change

What is the Delphi Method?

The Delphi method is a systematic and iterative approach used to generate consensus-led evidence. The Delphi method originated in the late 1940’s as a forecasting tool to inform the use and impact of emerging technologies on US national security approaches.

Increasingly employed in healthcare, the technique allows the generation of data from expert opinion in 7-9 months, to help better decisions be made and actioned.

How does the Delphi method work and why choose it to generate evidence?

The Delphi method involves a group of experts sharing anonymous opinions through rounds of feedback to reach consensus on a topic. The Delphi technique is a credible research approach to generate level 4 evidence which is regularly published in peer-reviewed journals. It is increasingly used in healthcare for the following reasons:

Generate rapid consensus in a fast-evolving environment: the method generates expert consensus efficiently (7-9 months), ensuring informed decisions on emerging technologies and treatment options.
Address complex healthcare challenges: the method integrates diverse expert perspectives to guide decision-making, especially useful when clinical data is limited or in areas like personalized medicine.
Support the shift to value-based care: the method supports evidence-led decisions, helping to define best practices and policies that improve patient outcomes.
Foster global collaboration: the method can span different geographical regions and the technique is also often used for international projects. It enables cross-border expert collaboration, ensuring solutions are adaptable and scientifically sound across diverse regions.
Enable continuous learning: the method can help ensure that specialized knowledge is recognized and communicated to key stakeholders, laying the foundation for training programs for healthcare professionals, for instance.

Wondering if you should embark on a Delphi study to support your plans? Take our 2-minute test to find out

How has Triducive used the Delphi method to support positive change in healthcare and what can be expected from a Delphi campaign?

As leading providers world-wide of modified Delphi consensus for the Pharmaceutical, Biotech, MedTech and Healthcare industries, Triducive act as independent facilitators designing and delivering Delphi studies and implementing communication campaigns.

Using the Delphi technique is one of the most rapid ways to build new, credible evidence and support advocacy. This includes educating the medical community and patients, informing guideline revisions, and establishing consistent best practices.

What results can be expected from a campaign based on the Delphi method?

With 50+ publications and numerous strategic campaigns, Triducive has helped clients with objectives such as:

To improve equity of access and uptake of products by addressing inconsistencies in the health system and positioning products more clearly
To support updates to or changes in national and local guidelines
To contribute to the revision of referral pathways and care practice by re-defining and setting new performance standards for treatment or management

Hear it from a HCP we collaborated with:

A range of our clients who have already adopted the Delphi method:

Do you need to generate and publish evidence to help…

Establish unmet needs or help define new treatment standards
Encourage optimal practices for consistent, effective care delivery
Support new or updated guidelines or policy

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FAQ

What is the Delphi Method?

The Delphi Method is a systematic and iterative approach used to generate consensus-led evidence. The technique originated in the late 1940s as a forecasting tool to inform the use and impact of emerging technologies on US national security approaches. Increasingly employed in healthcare, the technique allows the generation of data from expert opinion to help better decisions be made and actioned.

How does the Delphi Method work and why choose it to generate evidence?

The Delphi Method involves a group of experts sharing anonymous opinions through rounds of feedback to reach consensus on a topic. It is a credible research approach to generate “level 4” evidence. It is increasingly used in healthcare because it enables:

rapid consensus in fast-evolving environments
the ability to address complex healthcare challenges where data is limited
support for the shift to value-based care by defining best practices and policies
global collaboration across geographies

What kinds of healthcare challenges are best suited to a Delphi consensus study?

A Delphi consensus study is most valuable where evidence is limited, fragmented or rapidly evolving. It is ideal for defining best practice in areas lacking strong clinical data, prioritising research needs, aligning diverse expert views, developing guidelines or frameworks, and informing policy or service design. Triducive often apply this approach in therapeutic areas with emerging treatments, complex pathways or multi-stakeholder decision-making.

How long does a typical Delphi project run from start to publication?

The Delphi Method can generate robust evidence within 7-9 months, depending on panel size, number of rounds, and publication goals.

How has Triducive used the Delphi Method to support positive change in healthcare and what can be expected from a Delphi campaign?

Triducive act as independent facilitators designing and delivering Delphi studies for the pharmaceutical, biotech, MedTech and healthcare industries. Using the Delphi Method is one of the most rapid ways to build new, credible evidence and support advocacy. This includes educating the medical community and patients, informing guideline revisions and establishing consistent best practices.

What results can be expected from a campaign based on the Delphi Method?

With 50+ publications and numerous strategic campaigns, Triducive has helped clients with objectives such as:

improving equity of access and uptake of products by addressing inconsistencies in the health system and clarifying product positioning;
supporting updates to or changes in national and local clinical guidelines;
contributing to the revision of referral pathways and care practice by redefining and setting new performance standards for treatment or management.

Can the Delphi Method support global or cross-country collaborations?

Yes. The Delphi Method enables cross-border expert collaboration and is often used for international projects. It helps produce solutions that are scientifically sound and adaptable across diverse regions.

The Delphi Method