Lessons learned from the INTEGRATE-Pain Delphi process to develop core outcome sets (COS) across the pain continuum

Résumé fourni par la source

Dear Editor, The ability to compare results across studies is essential to ensuring that findings can be translated into improved treatments. To improve data comparison, core outcome sets (COS)—the minimum sets of outcomes to be measured—are increasingly being developed for health areas.6 The Delphi technique, a multistep approach to reach consensus among stakeholders, is an effective method for developing COS.3 Guidelines for COS development exist.2,6 However, further evidence is needed on how to best use Delphi methods to create meaningful and generalizable COS and ensure their uptake. INTEGRATE-Pain, a transatlantic knowledge-sharing consortium for pain research, used a Delphi method to develop overarching COS for 4 pain categories.1,4 Because of the study’s international nature and robust inclusion of persons with lived experience (PWLE), the process illuminated several lessons, which are discussed in this letter to inform future COS research. Using existing recommendations,2,6 INTEGRATE-Pain recruited more than 400 international stakeholders to participate in a Delphi to develop COS to span the pain continuum. To establish the need for COS, the consortium held a virtual meeting to present the Delphi and recruit voters. INTEGRATE-Pain consulted 2 advisory committees of researchers and PWLE and a steering committee.1 Domains were extracted from a literature review and stakeholder/voter suggestions. COS consensus criteria were informed by existing guidelines2,6 and input from the advisory and steering committees. The coordinating team finalized the COS and disseminated the results.1

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