Formulating Consensus for the Development of Clinical Practice Guidelines using the Delphi Method

Abstract

It is important to develop clear and reliable clinical practice guidelines through consensus. It is thought that this way of thinking should be considered with the selection of the member, the scope establishment, conflict of interest management, a systematic review, recommended making, and all finalized processes throughout.

The Delphi method is known as one of the effective and popular consensus formation methods. However, it has rarely been used in the development of guidelines. Therefore, I investigated the utility of the Delphi method for this purpose.

In this method, an expert votes independently on each theme, and subsequent votes are gathered based on these results, until consensus is achieved.

Delphi is the name of a place in ancient Greece that housed the temple of Apollo, which is famous for an oracle. This method was named after this place because it was believed that the process involved the use of expertise to arrive at the truth (the Delphi oracle) that was known only by the Almighty God.