Centre for Outcomes Research and Effectiveness, Research Department of Clinical, Educational & Health Psychology, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London, WC1E 7HB, UK.
National Guideline Alliance, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, 10-18 Union Street, London, SE1 1SZ, UK.
BMC Med Inform Decis Mak. 2023 Aug 2;23(1):147. doi: 10.1186/s12911-023-02220-5.
This feasibility study has the primary aim of capturing and comparing participant expectations and experiences of using a formal consensus method (FCM) and to explore whether these views change following participation within a guideline committee where FCM are used.
Twelve healthcare committee members and associated technical team members participated in semi-structured qualitative interviews before and after using FCM during guideline committee meetings. Interviews also focused on past experiences and expectations of informal consensus methods.
Participants said formal consensus included a greater range of evidence. They described positive reactions and found it a useful way to encourage involvement by balancing group power dynamics. Group discussion time was identified as important to clarify ideas, supported by good group chairing. However, participants reported that undertaking FCM required additional resources and suggested targeting its use for low quality evidence, limited committee expertise, or where the evidence is controversial.
FCM is an acceptable alternative to informal consensus methods that has qualities specifically helpful to healthcare guidelines such as encouraging participation, inclusivity of a broad range of evidence, and managing group dynamics. More research is required to better understand when using formal consensus is most appropriate and effective.
本可行性研究的主要目的是捕捉和比较参与者使用正式共识方法（FCM）的期望和体验，并探索在使用 FCM 的指南委员会中参与后这些观点是否会发生变化。
12 名医疗保健委员会成员和相关技术团队成员在指南委员会会议期间使用 FCM 前后参加了半结构化定性访谈。访谈还重点关注了非正式共识方法的过去经验和期望。
参与者表示正式共识包括更广泛的证据。他们描述了积极的反应，并发现它是一种通过平衡群体权力动态来鼓励参与的有用方法。小组讨论时间被认为是澄清想法的重要因素，良好的小组主持提供了支持。然而，参与者报告说，进行 FCM 需要额外的资源，并建议将其用于低质量证据、委员会专业知识有限或证据有争议的情况。
FCM 是一种可接受的替代非正式共识方法，它具有特别有助于医疗保健指南的品质，例如鼓励参与、广泛证据的包容性以及管理群体动态。需要进一步研究以更好地了解何时使用正式共识最合适和最有效。
