Appendix Nucci P (ed): Pediatric Cataract. Dev Ophthalmol. Basel, Karger, 2016, vol 57, pp 107–108 (DOI: 10.1159/000442508)
Delphi Process in the Management of Pediatric Cataract Massimiliano Serafino a Greta Castellucci a Giuseppe Banderali b University Eye Clinic, San Giuseppe Hospital, University of Milan, and b Department of Pediatrics, San Paolo Hospital, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
In 2013, our group wanted to learn more about worldwide practice styles and preferences for the management of pediatric cataract. Our initial idea was to survey ophthalmologists around the world. However, Alex Levin suggested doing something more accurate and proposed the Delphi process. We approached Edward Wilson and Rupal Trivedi and formed an executive committee. Before describing the research, we will briefly highlight what the Delphi technique is. It is an accepted method to achieve consensus among experts in controversial areas. It is structured to avoid undue influence from any one individual. An expert group is asked to answer questionnaires anonymously in two or more rounds. Questions without consensus are then reviewed face to face with the assistance of a facilitator. Experts can revise earlier questions after hearing the questionnaire responses to analyze those areas where consensus can or cannot be achieved. By using this process, the range of answers decreases, and the group converges toward a consensus. Results may also be used to identify areas for future research based on areas of nonconsensus. The areas of nonconsensus are of particular interest for future research. Our research was published in 2015 in the British Journal of Ophthalmology [1]. We identified a panel of international pediatric cataract surgeons with a publication record in pediatric cataract management and recognized participation in international meetings on this topic. The executive committee created questions to be used for the electronic surveys. The questionnaires included issues related to the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative management of pediatric cataract. In our study, we had 3 rounds of anonymous electronic questionnaires, followed by a face-to-face meeting and then a fourth anonymous electronic questionnaire. All questions had unit-based, multiple-choice, or true-or-false answers.
Downloaded by: Univ. of California San Diego 132.239.1.231 - 9/16/2016 2:35:21 PM
a
Although the research identified areas of consensus in pediatric cataract management, the nonconsensus areas are also of particular interest to help investigators to find out possible research questions. In particular, we identified the top 5 questions in the nonconsensus areas that need further research: the suggested minimum age for bilateral primary intraocular lens (IOL) implantation, the IOL power calculation formula, the IOL type for in-the-bag IOL implantation, medications on the table at the end of surgery, and the upper age limit for performing posterior capsulectomy and anterior vitrectomy.
References
Massimiliano Serafino Department of Ophthalmology University of Milan University Eye Clinic San Giuseppe Hospital Via San Vittore 12 IT–20123 Milan (Italy) E-Mail maxserafino @ yahoo.com
108
Serafino Castellucci Banderali
Nucci P (ed): Pediatric Cataract. Dev Ophthalmol. Basel, Karger, 2016, vol 57, pp 107–108 (DOI: 10.1159/000442508)
Downloaded by: Univ. of California San Diego 132.239.1.231 - 9/16/2016 2:35:21 PM
1 Serafino M, Trivedi RH, Levin AV, Wilson ME, Nucci P, Lambert SR, Nischal KK, Plager DA, BremondGignac D, Kekunnaya R, Nishina S, Tehrani NN, Ventura MC: Use of the Delphi process in paediatric cataract management. Br J Ophthalmol 2015, Epub ahead of print.