Using Delphi method in the development of a modern prostate cancer care quality indicators

Abstract

Background. Further improvement of the internal quality assurance of clinical practice is critical to achieve the goals and objectives of the Federal project entitled “Battle with cancer”, which aimed at reduction in cancer mortality by 2024 to 185 cases per 100,000 population. Prostate cancer (PCa) is the third leading cause of cancer mortality among men in Russia. For the selection of quality indicators (QIs) for the assessment of oncological care, including the treatment of PCa, the modified Delphi method is widely used.Aim. Identification of examples of actively used modifications of the Delphi technique and the most relevant QIs designed to control the quality of active surveillance of patients with low-risk PCa and the quality of cancer care for patients with metastatic PCa.Materials and methods. The literature search was performed using the following thematic queries in PubMed: “Delphi method/technique”, “quality indicators”, “cancer care”, “prostate cancer”, “tumors”, etc. The search time horizon extended to 2021–2022. The most modern publications devoted to applications of the Delphi methodology in the selection of QIs for treatment of men with PCa were identified.Results. The scientific literature describes in detail how to adapt the Delphi technique to choose the QIs for PCa. 20 QIs for active surveillance of patients with low-risk PCa (the draft version) and 23 QIs for treatment of patients with metastatic PCa were identified. The use of the modified Delphi technique resulted to certain consensus among experts leading to better understanding of QIs for PCa care.Conclusion. The Delphi method is a valid tool for analyzing the points of view of specialists and reaching a consensus on the considered options for solving complex problems. With the consistent improvement of oncourological practice, updating of clinical guidelines for PCa, it is feasible to revise and improve the list of the key QIs for PCa care.