Consensus Development Conference: Promoting Access to Quality Palliative Care in Canada

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Policy
• Public Health Initiatives
• Scientific Consensus Building

Background:

• Consensus Development Conferences (CDCs) offer a rapid and systematic method for synthesizing data.
• CDCs are effective for evaluating evidence to drive changes in healthcare policy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline the development and implementation of a Consensus Development Conference (CDC).
• To detail the application of CDC methodology within the Palliative Care Matters initiative.

Main Methods:

• Adoption of CDC methodology for the Palliative Care Matters initiative.
• Engagement with the public, scientific community, and palliative care stakeholders.
• Involvement of seven key groups: manager, steering committee, scientific expert panel, public lay panel, facilitator, audience, and media.

Main Results:

• The CDC methodology facilitated a structured approach to data synthesis and evaluation.
• Successful engagement of diverse stakeholders was achieved through the CDC process.
• The Palliative Care Matters initiative was informed by guiding principles developed into scientific questions.

Conclusions:

• The CDC is a valuable tool for timely data synthesis and healthcare policy development.
• The Palliative Care Matters initiative successfully utilized the CDC framework.
• Collaboration among scientific experts, the public, and stakeholders is crucial for effecting change in palliative care.