===== 🧾 Consensus Meeting =====

A **consensus meeting** is a structured, face-to-face (or virtual) gathering of experts, stakeholders, or representatives from relevant fields aimed at reaching agreement on a specific issue where evidence may be uncertain, incomplete, or requires contextual interpretation.

==== 🎯 Purpose ====
  * Achieve agreement on clinical or policy decisions.
  * Finalize recommendations developed through prior methods (e.g. Delphi rounds).
  * Prioritize outcomes, indicators, or interventions.
  * Resolve outstanding disagreements from previous consensus steps.

==== 🧩 Common Contexts ====
  * Development of:
    - Clinical practice guidelines
    - Core Outcome Sets (COS)
    - Ethical frameworks
    - Health technology assessments
  * Consensus on:
    - Definitions
    - Diagnostic criteria
    - Treatment appropriateness

==== 🧑‍⚖️ Structure and Process ====
  * **Participants:** Multidisciplinary experts, clinicians, patients, policymakers.
  * **Chairperson:** Neutral moderator to guide discussion.
  * **Format:**
    - Presentation of background evidence
    - Open discussion
    - Structured debate
    - Voting (anonymous or open)
    - Consensus defined (e.g., ≥70% agreement)
  * **Documentation:** Minutes, consensus statement, list of unresolved issues.

==== 🛠️ Integration With Other Methods ====
  * Often follows a **Delphi process**.
  * Used to finalize outcomes of **RAND/UCLA** ratings.
  * Can serve as the final stage in **COS development**.

==== ✅ Advantages ====
  * Allows real-time clarification and negotiation.
  * Facilitates understanding of differing viewpoints.
  * Enables consensus through direct interaction.

==== ❌ Limitations ====
  * Risk of dominant voices influencing decisions.
  * Requires effective facilitation.
  * Logistically complex and time-consuming.

==== 📚 Reporting Standards ====
  * **COMET Handbook** – for core outcome set development
  * **GRADE** – for guideline panels
  * Clearly report:
    - Participant selection
    - Evidence used
    - Consensus criteria
    - Outcomes

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See also: [[consensus_methodology|Consensus Methodology]] | [[delphi_method|Delphi Method]] | [[rand_ucla_method|RAND/UCLA Method]]