Developing a list of chronic conditions using a Delphi method to study multimorbidity in primary care

Area of Science:

• Primary Care Research
• Public Health
• Medical Informatics

Background:

• Multimorbidity is a growing concern in primary care.
• Accurate data on chronic conditions is needed for effective patient management.
• Existing tools may not adequately capture the complexity of multimorbidity in diverse patient populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create a validated French-language list of chronic conditions.
• To facilitate detailed analyses of multimorbid patients in French primary care settings.
• To support future research on multimorbidity prevalence and impact.

Main Methods:

• A three-step process involving Delphi studies and a multicentre cross-sectional study.
• Expert panel review of International Classification of Primary Care-2 (ICPC-2) items.
• Testing and refinement of the list with general practitioners and outpatients.

Main Results:

• An initial 726 ICPC-2 items were reviewed by 12 experts.
• A preliminary list of 124 items was established after two Delphi rounds and expert selection.
• The final list comprises 135 chronic conditions, validated through expert consensus and clinical testing.

Conclusions:

• A robust methodology yielded a validated list of 135 chronic conditions.
• The list is practical for use by physicians in primary care.
• This resource will enhance the accuracy of multimorbidity studies in French general practices.