Development of an Essential Information Set for Supporting Life With Bipolar Disorder: A Modified Delphi Study With...

Bipolar disorder is a chronic condition characterised by alternating periods of depression and heightened mood, leading to considerable disability and frequent relapses, often resulting in difficulties in maintaining a stable social life. This study aimed to develop a set of essential information through a structured consensus process with patients, family members and healthcare professionals, to support patients with bipolar disorder to actively participate in their treatment and maintain a social life.

A modified Delphi method was used to develop a consensus among patients, family members and healthcare professionals. The following steps were involved: a review of existing relevant literature, individual rating by experts, and multiple expert panel meetings. We conducted two rounds of individual ratings and face-to-face panel meetings following the literature review.

The literature review identified 126 candidate items. The expert panel comprised 11 members, including patients, family members and healthcare professionals. Through the consensus process, 23 items were selected to form the essential information set.

The developed 23-item essential information set provides the minimum necessary information for patients, family members and healthcare professionals to support living well with bipolar disorder. This set can serve as a basis for psychoeducation. This study provides a foundation for future research to explore its effectiveness in clinical settings.

Patients and family members participated in the expert panel, where they rated candidate items, shared their lived experiences and provided feedback on the wording of each item in the information set during the panel meetings.