Background/importance
There is heterogeneity among the outcomes used in regional anesthesia research.
Objective
We aimed to produce a core outcome set for regional anesthesia research.
Methods
We conducted a systematic review and Delphi study to develop this core outcome set. A systematic review of the literature from January 2015 to December 2019 was undertaken to generate a long list of potential outcomes to be included in the core outcome set. For each outcome found, the parameters such as the measurement scale, timing and definitions, were compiled. Regional anesthesia experts were then recruited to participate in a three-round electronic modified Delphi process with incremental thresholds to generate a core outcome set. Once the core outcomes were decided, a final Delphi survey and video conference vote was used to reach a consensus on the outcome parameters.
Results
Two hundred and six papers were generated following the systematic review, producing a long list of 224 unique outcomes. Twenty-one international regional anesthesia experts participated in the study. Ten core outcomes were selected after three Delphi survey rounds with 13 outcome parameters reaching consensus after a final Delphi survey and video conference.
Conclusions
We present the first core outcome set for regional anesthesia derived by international expert consensus. These are proposed not to limit the outcomes examined in future studies, but rather to serve as a minimum core set. If adopted, this may increase the relevance of outcomes being studied, reduce selective reporting bias and increase the availability and suitability of data for meta-analysis in this area.
We aimed to produce a core outcome set for regional anesthesia research.
ContributorsJeremy Hill, Toby Ashken, Simeon West, Alan James Robert Macfarlane, Kariem El-Boghdadly, Eric Albrecht, Ki Jinn Chin, Ben Fox, Ashwani Gupta, Stephen Haskins, Nat Haslam, Rosemary MG Hogg, Anil Hormis, David F Johnston, Edward R Mariano, Peter Merjavy, Timothy Moll, James Parry, Amit Pawa, Kim Russon, Maria Paz Sebastian, Lloyd Turbitt, Jonathan Womack, and Maria Chazapis
Disease Category: Anaesthesia & pain control
Disease Name: N/A
Age Range: 18 - 85
Sex: Either
Nature of Intervention: Regional Anaesthesia Nerve Blocks
- Clinical experts
- COS for clinical trials or clinical research
- Delphi process
- Systematic review
- Consensus meeting
We conducted a systematic review and Delphi study to develop this core outcome set. A systematic review of the literature from January 2015 to December 2019 was undertaken to generate a long list of potential outcomes to be included in the core outcome set. For each outcome found, the parameters such as the measurement scale, timing and definitions, were compiled. Regional anesthesia experts were then recruited to participate in a three-round electronic modified Delphi process with incremental thresholds to generate a core outcome set. Once the core outcomes were decided, a final Delphi survey and video conference vote was used to reach a consensus on the outcome parameters.