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[Consensus doesn't always mean agreement: limitations of consensus methods in health services]
S Peiró Moreno1, E Portella Argelaguet
1Institut Valencià d'Estudis en Salud Pública, Valencia.
Gaceta Sanitaria
|November 1, 1993
Summary
Consensus methods like Nominal Group Technique and Delphi are vital for health services decision-making. Precise methodology is crucial for their effective application and impact evaluation.
Area of Science:
- Health Services Research
- Decision Sciences
- Methodology
Background:
- Decision-making in healthcare often involves uncertainty.
- Consensus methods are frequently employed to address these challenges.
- Key techniques include Nominal Group Technique, Delphi Method, and Consensus Conferences.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the application of consensus methods in health services.
- To identify critical factors for the appropriate use of these techniques.
- To emphasize the need for methodologic precision.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of consensus methods in health services.
- Analysis of methodological requirements for effective implementation.
- Identification of key stages in the consensus process.
Main Results:
- Effective use of consensus methods demands high methodologic precision.
- Critical factors include clear objectives, participant selection, information synthesis, defining consensus, and impact evaluation.
- Inconsistent application can limit the utility of these techniques.
Conclusions:
- Consensus methods are valuable tools in health services but require rigorous application.
- Methodologic precision across all stages is essential for reliable outcomes.
- Future research should focus on optimizing the impact evaluation of consensus processes.