Comparison of Multi-Round and Real-Time Delphi Survey Methods

National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland

Status: Unknown

Conditions: Consensus Development

Treatments: Other: Participation in a Delphi survey

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04471103

NUIreland-COHESION

Details and patient eligibility

About

A two-group parallel randomised trial of Delphi survey methods.

Full description

Aim:

The aim of this trial is to compare a multi-round Delphi survey method with a Real-Time Delphi method on prioritised outcomes included in a core outcome set (COS). This trial is embedded within the COHESION study which is developing a COS for interventions for the treatment of neonatal encephalopathy.

Methods:

Stakeholders (parents/ caregivers of infants diagnosed and treated with neonatal encephalopathy, healthcare providers and researchers) will be randomised using stratified randomisation to take part in either a multi-round or Real-Time Delphi. Stakeholders will rate the importance of the same set of outcomes in both arms. We will compare the prioritised outcomes at the end of both surveys as well as other parameters such as feedback, initial condition and iteration effects.

Enrollment: 180 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• parents or caregivers of infants that have been diagnosed with and received treatment for neonatal encephalopathy

• healthcare providers including:

  • neonatal nurse practitioners
  • midwives
  • obstetricians
  • neonatologists/paediatricians
  • neonatal/paediatric neurologists
  • general practitioners who provide long-term care for children with neonatal encephalopathy
  • policymakers

• researchers/ academics with expertise in neonatal encephalopathy treatment.

Exclusion criteria

• participants not meeting the inclusion criteria

Trial design

Primary purpose: Health Services Research

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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180 participants in 2 patient groups

Real-Time Delphi Method

Experimental group

Description:

The Real-Time Delphi Method involves a single-round Delphi survey rating the importance of outcomes for neonatal encephalopathy. Feedback on each outcome (participant's own rating score, rating of the outcome by stakeholder group and overall consensus results for that outcome) will be provided to the participant once they have rated an outcome. They can then modify how they rated the outcome based on this feedback if they wish. Participants can also re-visit and re-rate outcomes as many times as they wish when the survey is live. Duration will span approximately 5 weeks.

Treatment:

Other: Participation in a Delphi survey

Multi-round Delphi Method

Active Comparator group

Description:

The Multi-Round Delphi Method involves a three-round Delphi survey rating the importance of outcomes for neonatal encephalopathy. Feedback on each outcome (participant's own rating score, rating of the outcome by stakeholder group and overall consensus results for that outcome) will be provided to the participant at the end of Round 1 and the end of Round 2. Participants can then modify how they rated the outcome based on feedback, in Rounds 2 and 3, if they wish. Each survey Round will run for 3 weeks approximately. In between survey Rounds, there will be a downtime of approximately 10 days before providing feedback and a further 7 days before starting the next round. Duration will span approximately 14 weeks.

Treatment:

Other: Participation in a Delphi survey