Design of a Consensus Study

Consensus studies represent a growing area in orthopedic research. Rather than presenting objective data, a consensus study gathers the collective knowledge from experts in the field and uses the findings to propose treatment recommendations. The two most commonly used study designs for consensus are the Delphi method and the nominal group technique (NGT). The structure of consensus studies has the advantage of being both low cost and highly modifiable and has become more accessible than ever with advancements in videoconferencing technology. However, consensus studies also have several limitations related to potential biases from the study participants. A balanced and diverse expert panel, controlled feedback, and detailed reporting of methodology are key components of a consensus study that can improve the weight of the recommendations in the broader literature.