Core outcome set for uncomplicated acute appendicitis in children and young people

F C Sherratt1, B S R Allin2, J J Kirkham3

  • 1Institute of Population Health Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.

Insights

A new core outcome set was developed for pediatric appendicitis research. This set includes 14 key outcomes to standardize reporting in studies of uncomplicated acute appendicitis in children and young people.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Surgery
  • Clinical Trial Methodology
  • Health Outcomes Research

Background:

  • Inconsistent outcome reporting in pediatric appendicitis studies hinders clinical practice and policy development.
  • A core outcome set is crucial for standardizing research in uncomplicated acute appendicitis among children and young people.

Framework:

  • A comprehensive list of outcomes was generated through systematic literature reviews and qualitative interviews.
  • Stakeholder consensus was achieved via a three-round Delphi process and face-to-face meetings involving patients, parents, and surgeons.

Implementation:

  • 147 stakeholders participated in the Delphi process, with 90 completing all rounds.
  • The final core outcome set includes 14 outcomes across five domains, such as intra-abdominal abscess, reoperation, and quality of life.

Implications:

  • The developed core outcome set provides a standardized framework for reporting research on uncomplicated acute appendicitis in pediatric populations.
  • Further research is needed to establish standardized methods for measuring these core outcomes.
Abstract

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