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.

  • 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.
  • Development of:
    1. Clinical practice guidelines
    2. Core Outcome Sets (COS)
    3. Ethical frameworks
    4. Health technology assessments
  • Consensus on:
    1. Definitions
    2. Diagnostic criteria
    3. Treatment appropriateness
  • Participants: Multidisciplinary experts, clinicians, patients, policymakers.
  • Chairperson: Neutral moderator to guide discussion.
  • Format:
    1. Presentation of background evidence
    2. Open discussion
    3. Structured debate
    4. Voting (anonymous or open)
    5. Consensus defined (e.g., ≥70% agreement)
  • Documentation: Minutes, consensus statement, list of unresolved issues.
  • Often follows a Delphi process.
  • Used to finalize outcomes of RAND/UCLA ratings.
  • Can serve as the final stage in COS development.
  • Allows real-time clarification and negotiation.
  • Facilitates understanding of differing viewpoints.
  • Enables consensus through direct interaction.
  • Risk of dominant voices influencing decisions.
  • Requires effective facilitation.
  • Logistically complex and time-consuming.
  • COMET Handbook – for core outcome set development
  • GRADE – for guideline panels
  • Clearly report:
    1. Participant selection
    2. Evidence used
    3. Consensus criteria
    4. Outcomes

See also: Consensus Methodology | Delphi Method | RAND/UCLA Method

  • consensus_meeting.txt
  • Last modified: 2025/07/01 17:48
  • by administrador