Delphi Technique in Health Sciences: A Map

Abstract

Objectives: In health sciences, the Delphi technique is primarily used by researchers when the available knowledge is incomplete or subject to uncertainty and other methods that provide higher levels of evidence cannot be used. The aim is to collect expert-based judgments and often to use them to identify consensus. In this map, we provide an overview of the fields of application for Delphi techniques in health sciences in this map and discuss the processes used and the quality of the findings. We use systematic reviews of Delphi techniques for the map, summarize their findings and examine them from a methodological perspective. Methods: Twelve systematic reviews of Delphi techniques from different sectors of the health sciences were identified and systematically analyzed. Results: The 12 systematic reviews show, that Delphi studies are typically carried out in two to three rounds with a deliberately selected panel of experts. A large number of modifications to the Delphi technique have now been developed. Significant weaknesses exist in the quality of the reporting. Conclusion: Based on the results, there is a need for clarification with regard to the methodological approaches of Delphi techniques, also with respect to any modification. Criteria for evaluating the quality of their execution and reporting also appear to be necessary. However, it should be noted that we cannot make any statements about the quality of execution of the Delphi studies but rather our results are exclusively based on the reported findings of the systematic reviews.

Delphi methodology in healthcare research: How to decide its appropriateness

“…There is no standard size of the panel members and varies from 10 to 1000 (typically between 10-100) in published studies. However, due to data management difficulties and logistic issues (rounds of the survey), a panel with three-digit sample size is unusual[ 10 , 15 ]. Generally, a double-digit number close to 30-50 is considered optimum in concluding rounds for a homogenous Delphi[ 4 , 14 ].…”

“…As Delphi is a method to generate consensus of individual panel member opinion on unsettled critical issues, the consensus and closing criteria vary widely among the studies[ 10 , 12 , 15 ]. The definition of consensus used in published Delphi studies is discrepant.…”

Developing an Evidence-Based Tool for Planning and Evaluating Vaccination Strategies Aimed at Improving Coverage in Elderly and At-Risk Adult Population

“…A multiprofessional panel of eight experts was involved in a 2-round Delphi survey. The Delphi survey was used to collect expert-based judgements and reach a consensus over the topic based on the assumption that a group of experts produce a more valid judgement than a single expert ( 13 ).…”

Big Data in der Gesundheitsförderung und Prävention

“…Die Delphi-Methode ist ein etabliertes Verfahren zur Einschätzung wissensbasierter Urteile von Expert*innen mit dem Ziel der Identifikation von Konsens bzw. Dissens [9,22].…”

“…1). Die Festlegung von 70 % Zustimmung als Konsenskriterium ist dabei typisch für Delphi-Verfahren in den Gesundheitswissenschaften [22].…”