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Lost in definitions: Reducing duplication and clarifying definitions of knowledge and decision support tools. A
Dunja Dreesens1, Leontien Kremer2, Jako Burgers3
1Maastricht University/School CAPHRI, Department of Family Medicine, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, the Netherlands; Knowledge Institute of Medical Specialists, P.O. Box 3320, 3502 ZB Utrecht, the Netherlands.
Background:
A review of tools for knowledge translation and decision support yielded an abundance of tool types and confusion over the definitions of these knowledge tools. The aim of this study was to limit the number of tool types, reach consensus on their definitions and clarify their intended use.
Methods:
We used the RAND-modified Delphi approach to select a core set of knowledge tools and to reach agreement on the tools' definitions. The knowledge tool types were scored using a Likert scale in two Delphi rounds on importance; the provided definitions were also scored and commented on by the experts.
Results:
Over 20 experts from parties involved with development of knowledge and decision support tools limited the number of tool types from 34 to 13. The Delphi-participants reached consensus on nine tools as being important for knowledge translation and supporting (shared) decision-making. Furthermore, they reached consensus on the definition of five of the 13 tools.
Conclusions/Discussion:
A large group of experts, representatives of Dutch knowledge tool developers, managed to reach consensus on a core set of 13 knowledge tool types for the Netherlands. Implementing the use of this set and limiting the expansion with other tool types remains challenging.
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