AB1248 DEVELOPMENT OF A CORE DOMAIN SET FOR NAILFOLD CAPILLAROSCOPY REPORTING: AN EVIDENCE-BASED CONSENSUS STUDY
Authors: M. H. Abu-Zaid, Y. El Miedany, S. Ismail, M. Fawzy, U. Müller-Ladner, R. Giacomelli, V. Liakouli, W. Hermann, M. Elgaafary, N. Fouad, S. Saber
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2024)

<h3>Background:</h3> Given the rapidly growing use of nailfold capillaroscopy (NFC) by a variety of healthcare professionals in both the standard day to day practice as well as in research context to predict the disease progression and monitor treatment effects, a barrier for further evaluation is the lack of consensus on how to document the demographics/ outcomes of the assessment. Bearing in mind the fact that NFC is a highly operator-dependent imaging tool, earlier attempts to set up standards for reporting the NFC findings highlighted the importance of the matter, but the outcomes of these studies revealed that there is still work remain to be done. Therefore, standardisation of the NFC reporting seems paramount. <h3>Objectives:</h3> 1.To determine the core set domains for NFC reporting, for both clinical practice as well as clinical research. <h3>Methods:</h3> Study design: The study design was formulated based on the Clinical, Evidence-based, Guidelines" CEG guideline development process protocol which involves a scientific evidence and consensus, based on the existing scientific evidence and clinical experience. The manuscript conformed to the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses guidelines for reporting systematic reviews. Methodology: A core team supervised, coordinated and assisted with developing the scope of the project and the key clinical questions, and nominating the expert panel. Led by an experienced literature review consultant and the assistance of an expert in methodology; the literature review was conducted based on the specific research questions identified. Delphi technique was adopted to develop core set domains for reporting NFC in both clinical practice as well as clinical research. The first Delphi round included 14 core areas, its 18 domains with 50 subdomains, derived from a systematic literature review. The level of evidence was determined for each core set using the Oxford Centre for Evidence-based Medicine system. Nine response categories have been set per each item ranging between 1 and 9. Round 2, aimed to reach preliminary consensus "in" or "out" for domains. It included all items that were rated "critical" by at least 80% of the participants as well as any new domains proposed in round 1. <h3>Results:</h3> Online Delphi procedure was adopted with the help of international expert panel to reach a consensus about the core items, domains as well as subdomains for NFC reporting. The participants to the first, and second round were 11 experts. Fourteen core items were discussed in the two rounds. Outcomes revealed that a consensus has been achieved on the "in" or "out" core areas and domains. The 80% voting threshold set in this work has been met, as 81.8-100 % of respondents agreed the key NFC Core set domains to be included. At the end of the survey, the final report template of NFC in rheumatology reached a consensus. <h3>Conclusion:</h3> The current study achieved its target to bring objectivity and achieve consensus about outcome domains to be included in a model of nailfold capillaroscopy report. Also, results revealed that the level of the details included in the report has met the expected standards for both clinical practice as well as clinical research. <h3>REFERENCES: NIL. Acknowledgements:</h3> <b>NIL.</b> <h3>Disclosure of Interests:</h3> <b>None declared.</b>