Developing Consensus on Priority Pediatric Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Conditions and Procedures.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to develop an international expert consensus on priority pediatric otolaryngology-head and neck surgery (OHNS) conditions and procedures for which all national health systems globally should be capable of managing.

STUDY DESIGN

The Delphi method is a multiround online questionnaire and was administered internationally to otolaryngologists with a focus on pediatric populations. This study was administered in parallel to a Delphi survey focusing on adult OHNS conditions amongst adult otolaryngology experts.

SETTING

International online survey.

METHODS

In round 1, participants listed the top 15 pediatric otolaryngological conditions and top 15 pediatric otolaryngology procedures for their World Bank region. In round 2, participants ranked round 1 responses in order of global importance on a 5-point Likert scale. In round 3, participants reranked conditions and procedures that did not achieve consensus, defined as at least 70% of the round 2 Likert responses being ranked as either "important" or "very important." Descriptive statistics were calculated for each round.

RESULTS

The survey was distributed to 35 experts globally, with a 40% (n = 14) response rate. Fifty percent (n = 7) of participants were from low- and middle-income countries, with at least 1 participant from each World Bank region. A list of 28 consensus surgical procedures and 11 consensus conditions were identified.

CONCLUSION

This Delphi survey method of world experts in pediatric otolaryngology identified a core list of medical conditions and surgical procedures that should be a part of every national health system's clinical goals of treatment, research, and capacity building.