Methods for conducting international Delphi surveys to optimise global participation in core outcome set development: a case study in gastric cancer informed by a comprehensive literature review
Authors: Alkhaffaf Bilal , Blazeby Jane M. , Metryka Aleksandra , Glenny Anne-Marie , Adeyeye Ademola , Costa Paulo Matos , del Val Ismael Diez , Gisbertz Suzanne S. , Guner Ali , Law Simon , Lee Hyuk-Joon , Li Ziyu , Nakada Koji , Nuñez Rafael Mauricio Restrepo , Reim Daniel , Reynolds John V. , Vorwald Peter , Zanotti Daniela , Allum William , Chaudry M. Asif , Griffiths Ewen , Williamson Paula R. , Bruce Iain A. ,   on behalf of the GASTROS International Working Group, Li Shuangxi , He Yu-long , Xu Zekuan , Xue Yingwei , Liang Han , Li Guoxin , Zhao Enhao , Neumann Philipp , O’Neill Linda , Guinan Emer , Baiocchi Gian Luca , de Manzoni Giovanni , Hagens Eliza R. C. , van Berge Henegouwen Mark I. , Lages Patrícia , Onofre Susana , Cabañas Gabriel Salcedo , Gonzalez Maria Posada , Campos Cristina Marin , Candas Bahar , Baki Bahadır Emre , Bodur Muhammed Selim , Yildirim Reyyan , Cekic Arif Burak , Beuscart Jean-Baptiste , Horbach Sophie , Mecoli Christopher , Smith Toby O. 
Published: June 2021

Background

Core outcome sets (COS) should be relevant to key stakeholders and widely applicable and usable. Ideally, they are developed for international use to allow optimal data synthesis from trials. Electronic Delphi surveys are commonly used to facilitate global participation; however, this has limitations. It is common for these surveys to be conducted in a single language potentially excluding those not fluent in that tongue. The aim of this study is to summarise current approaches for optimising international participation in Delphi studies and make recommendations for future practice.

Methods

A comprehensive literature review of current approaches to translating Delphi surveys for COS development was undertaken. A standardised methodology adapted from international guidance derived from 12 major sets of translation guidelines in the field of outcome reporting was developed. As a case study, this was applied to a COS project for surgical trials in gastric cancer to translate a Delphi survey into 7 target languages from regions active in gastric cancer research.

Results

Three hundred thirty-two abstracts were screened and four studies addressing COS development in rheumatoid and osteoarthritis, vascular malformations and polypharmacy were eligible for inclusion. There was wide variation in methodological approaches to translation, including the number of forward translations, the inclusion of back translation, the employment of cognitive debriefing and how discrepancies and disagreements were handled. Important considerations were identified during the development of the gastric cancer survey including establishing translation groups, timelines, understanding financial implications, strategies to maximise recruitment and regulatory approvals. The methodological approach to translating the Delphi surveys was easily reproducible by local collaborators and resulted in an additional 637 participants to the 315 recruited to complete the source language survey. Ninety-nine per cent of patients and 97% of healthcare professionals from non-English-speaking regions used translated surveys.

Conclusion

Consideration of the issues described will improve planning by other COS developers and can be used to widen international participation from both patients and healthcare professionals.