A core outcome set for pituitary surgery research: an international delphi consensus study

This study aimed to develop a core outcome set (COS) for pituitary surgery to enhance the quality, efficiency and effectiveness of future pituitary adenoma surgery research.

Thirty-three outcomes were identified through a systematic review of pituitary adenoma surgery outcomes and a study on patient-reported measures. These were presented in an online survey to healthcare professionals (HCPs), patients and caregivers. In the first round, participants scored each outcome's importance on a 5-point scale (1-strongly disagree; 5-strongly agree) and could also suggest additional outcomes, which were reviewed and, if appropriate, added to existing domains. In the second round, participants re-scored the updated the list, considering group median and interquartile range scores from the previous round. Outcomes with a median score of 5 were included in the COS. A final live online consensus meeting discussed and voted on borderline outcomes (median scores 3-4).

The first round received 95 responses (52% HCPs, 48% patients/caregivers). Of the 33 outcomes, 16 received a median score of 5 (strongly agree), three received 4.5 and 14 received 4 (agree). Round two received 87 responses (52% HCPs, 48% patients and caregivers). Of the 33 outcomes, 14 received a median ranking of 5, two received 4.5, 15 received 4 and two received 3 (neutral). The live meeting (attended by 12 participants: 5 HCPs, 6 patients, 1 caregiver), reached consensus on the final COS, which includes 7 domains: short-term surgical outcomes; nasal outcomes; ophthalmic outcomes; endocrine outcomes; quality of life and psychological outcomes; other short-term outcomes; and disease control outcomes.

We advocate for use of the COS in future pituitary surgery research.