Chapter 31 - Consensus development methods: Use in the production of national and international frameworks and tools in health systems and policy making

Abstract

Key policy decisions are often made in health systems under uncertain conditions or without complete objective evidence. Decisions made in the health system at policy levels affect national and global populations, and therefore require transparency and social accountability to ensure the best impact on the populations’ health. A framework and tool in health systems are a useful guidance which are often developed by a group of experts and key stakeholders to set out a plan, organize a process of policy development, and implement a health service. Consensus development methods assist in complex decision-making processes, combining existing evidence and expert opinions during the process of developing a framework or tool in health systems. A variety of challenges affect the selection, application, and use of consensus development methods, which require careful consideration to maintain methodological rigor, validity, and transparency. This chapter describes commonly used consensus development methods (CDMs) in the field, introduces examples of applications of CDMs in the development of national and international frameworks and tools in health, and discusses the importance of transparent decision making and accountability in the development of such frameworks and tools.