An approach to consensus building using the Delphi technique: developing a learning resource in mental health

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Clinical Risk Management
• Mental Health

Background:

• Collaboration between researchers and practitioners is crucial for effective health service research.
• Developing practical learning resources requires input from diverse expert perspectives.
• Clinical risk management in mental health presents complex challenges necessitating consensus-based solutions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a learning resource for clinical risk management in mental health.
• To utilize a multi-method approach, focusing on the Delphi Technique for consensus building.
• To report on phase one of the project, specifically the application of the Delphi Technique.

Main Methods:

• A three-round Delphi Technique was employed with a dispersed group of experts.
• Quantitative analysis included medians, means, and standard deviations to assess agreement and group convergence.
• Qualitative data were analyzed using Thematic Content Analysis.

Main Results:

• The Delphi Technique facilitated consensus among experts on the learning resource's content and structure.
• Analysis of medians and means indicated levels of agreement/disagreement.
• Standard deviations measured the convergence of expert opinions, while thematic analysis captured qualitative insights.

Conclusions:

• The chosen analytical model (medians, means, standard deviations, thematic analysis) proved effective for consensus building.
• The Delphi Technique is a valuable and economical method for engaging dispersed experts.
• Consensus building through methods like Delphi is vital in fields such as education and health, particularly for understanding group views.