Generation of Cross-Specialty Consensus Statements on Soft Tissue Management via a Modified Delphi Method
Damir Matic1, Joseph S Cheng2, Olivier Gauthier3
1Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, London Health Science Center, Victoria Hospital, Western University, 800 Commissioners Rd E, London, ON, N6A5W9, Canada.
World Journal of Surgery
|July 13, 2022
Summary
This study developed consensus statements for surgical soft tissue management (STM) education. These evidence-based guidelines aim to standardize training across specialties, improving surgical outcomes and patient care.
Area of Science:
- Surgical Education
- Soft Tissue Management
- Evidence-Based Medicine
Background:
- Current surgical soft tissue management (STM) training relies heavily on tradition, leading to variations across specialties.
- A lack of systematic evidence on surgical techniques and implants hinders the development of evidence-based STM curricula.
- A curriculum development group (CDG) aimed to establish common ground for surgical soft tissue education.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a cross-specialty curriculum for surgical soft tissue management (STM).
- To generate a set of consensus statements to form the basis for surgical soft tissue education.
- To identify common principles for STM applicable across various surgical disciplines.
Main Methods:
- A backward planning approach and Kern's six-step method were used to select 13 curriculum topics.
- A modified Delphi process, involving a pilot meeting and two web-based surveys with 22 panelists, was employed.
- Consensus statements were generated through expert discussions and literature reviews on selected STM topics.
Main Results:
- Seventy-one statements regarding soft tissue management were evaluated by the panel.
- Fifty-six statements achieved an 80% consensus, indicating they are suitable for direct integration into training.
- The study successfully generated a core set of consensus statements for cross-specialty STM education.
Conclusions:
- A modified Delphi method facilitated the creation of cross-specialty consensus statements for soft tissue management.
- These consensus statements provide a foundation for developing multi-specialty surgical education programs.
- Future research can utilize similar methods to build specialty-specific consensus on soft tissue handling, combining expert opinion with clinical evidence.
