OBJECTIVE: To determine the consensus and importance of care practices related to the management of peripheral venous catheter (PVC)-related phlebitis in hospitalized patients through the views of experts from different disciplines.
BACKGROUND: PVCs are commonly used in hospitals but are associated with complications such as phlebitis. Their management differs widely, and studies are heterogeneous.
METHODS: Delphi method.
METHODS: Four stages: problem area (with Web of Science bibliometric review in July 2022), panel members, two Delphi rounds and closing criteria. In the Delphi survey, experts answered an online questionnaire based on assessment, treatment and follow-up dimensions (September 2022-February 2023). Statistical analyses were conducted of frequencies, percentages, measures of central tendency and levels of dispersion (QD). A space for comments was created, and a thematic analysis conducted of them.
RESULTS: Eighteen experts (nurses, doctors and pharmacists) participated in the Delphi rounds. Forty-five activities were identified: 19 in assessment, 15 in treatment and 11 in follow-up. A high consensus level (QD ≤ 0.6) was found in five activities (11.12%), moderate level (0.6 < QD < 1.0) in 19 (42.22%) and low level (QD > 1.0) in 21 (46.66%). Seven themes were determined (patient perspective, lack of consensus, low evidence-based practices, stage-based treatments, prevention activities, high variability in practice and specialist teams and interdisciplinary work).
CONCLUSIONS: The importance of systematic assessment scales is highlighted together with consensus on signs and symptoms (pain, redness, inflammation, palpable cord and induration). Treatment according to severity and daily visual recording and monitoring are emphasized along with the need for patient participation and healthcare literacy. A high level of consensus was obtained in 11% of the activities, showing the large variability of criteria and interventions for phlebitis management. Highlighted needs include working in a team, the use of specialist teams and promoting evidence- and prevention-based activities.
CONCLUSIONS: Clinical variability is noted and, therefore, the importance of consensus on standardized care for PVC phlebitis and evidence-based practice.
UNASSIGNED: Delphi studies (CREDES).
UNASSIGNED: Experts contribution.

UNASSIGNED: Physical activity and sport (PAS) have been related to many health outcomes and social benefits. The main aim of this research is to build a Social Return on Investment (SROI) model of PAS based on experts\' opinion to clarify the domains of impact and how to measure and value them.
UNASSIGNED: A Delphi method will be employed with a systematic review on the SROI framework applied to PAS and initial interviews with experts informing the design of the Delphi survey statements. Three iterative rounds of communication with the expert panel will be carried out. Participants will indicate their level of agreement with each statement on a five-point Likert scale. During the second and third iterative rounds, experts will reappraise the statements and will be provided with a summary of the group responses from the panel. A statement will have reached consensus if ≥70% of the panel agree/strongly agree or disagree/strongly disagree after round 3. Finally, group meetings (3-4 experts) will be conducted to ask about the measurement and valuation methods for each domain.
UNASSIGNED: The final goal of this project will result in the design of a toolkit for organizations, professionals, and policymakers on how to measure the social benefits of PAS.

At present, there are no standardized guidelines for determining patient eligibility for pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) clinical trials. Thus, we aim to determine which clinical features, histopathological features, or laboratory features should be included in active ulcerative PG clinical trial eligibility criteria for treatment-naïve patients and patients already treated with immunomodulating medications (treatment-exposed patients). This study employed 4 rounds of the Delphi technique. Electronic surveys were administered to 21 international board-certified dermatologists and plastic surgeon PG experts (June 2022-December 2022). Our results demonstrated that for a patient to be eligible for a PG trial, they must meet the following criteria: (i) presence of ulcer(s) with erythematous/violaceous undermining wound borders, (ii) presence of a painful or tender ulcer, (iii) history/presence of rapidly progressing disease, (iv) exclusion of infection and other causes of cutaneous ulceration, (v) biopsy for H&E staining, and (vi) a presence/history of pathergy. These criteria vary in importance for treatment-naïve versus treatment-exposed patients. Given the international cohort, we were unable to facilitate live discussions between rounds. This Delphi consensus study provides a set of specific, standardized eligibility criteria for PG clinical trials, thus addressing one of the main issues hampering progress toward Food and Drug Administration approval of medications for PG.

Pyogenic spinal infections (PSIs) are severe conditions with high morbidity and mortality. If medical treatment fails, patients may require surgery, but there is no consensus regarding the definition of medical treatment failure.
To determine criteria for defining failure of medical treatment in PSI through an international consensus of experts.
A two-round basic Delphi method study.
One hundred and fifty experts from 22 countries (authors or co-authors of clinical guidelines or indexed publications on the topic) were invited to participate; 33 answered both rounds defining the criteria.
A scale of 1 to 9 (1: no relevance; 9: highly relevant) applied to each criterion.
We created an online survey with 10 criteria reported in the literature to define the failure of medical treatment in PSIs. We sent this survey via email to the experts. Agreement among the participants on relevant criteria (score ≥7) was determined. One month later, the second round of evaluations was sent. An extra criterion suggested by six responders in the first round was incorporated. The final version was reached with the criteria considered relevant and with high agreement.
The consensus definition is: (1) There is an uncontrolled sepsis despite broad spectrum antibiotic treatment, and (2) There is an infection relapse, following a six-week period of antibiotics with clinical and laboratory improvement.
Our definition of failure following nonsurgical treatment of PSI can offer a standardized approach to guide clinical decision-making. Furthermore, it has the potential to enhance scientific reporting within this field.

Building upon our recently developed conceptual definition of oral frailty (the age-related functional decline of orofacial structures), this e-Delphi study aims to develop an operational definition of oral frailty by identifying its components.
We used a modified e-Delphi study to reach a consensus among international experts on the components of oral frailty. Twelve out of fifteen invited experts in the field of gerodontology participated. Experts responded to three rounds of an online 5-point scale questionnaire of components to be included or excluded from the operational definition of oral frailty. After each round, scores and rationales were shared with all experts, after which they could revise their position. A consensus was reached when at least 70% of the experts agreed on whether or not a component should be included in the operational definition of oral frailty.
The experts achieved a high level of agreement (80 - 100%) on including eight components of oral frailty and excluding nineteen. The operational definition of oral frailty should include the following components: 1) difficulty eating hard or tough foods, 2) inability to chew all types of foods, 3) decreased ability to swallow solid foods, 4) decreased ability to swallow liquids, 5) overall poor swallowing function, 6) impaired tongue movement, 7) speech or phonatory disorders, and 8) hyposalivation or xerostomia.
This e-Delphi study provided eight components that make up the operational definition of oral frailty. These components are the foundation for the next stage, which involves developing an oral frailty assessment tool.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1174103.].

Whole-Body Electromyostimulation (WB-EMS) is a training technology that enables simultaneous stimulation of all the main muscle groups with a specific impulse intensity for each electrode. The corresponding time-efficiency and joint-friendliness of WB-EMS may be particularly attractive for people unable or unmotivated to conduct (intense) conventional training protocols. However, due to the enormous metabolic and musculoskeletal impact of WB-EMS, particular attention must be paid to the application of this technology. In the past, several scientific and newspaper articles reported severe adverse effects of WB-EMS. To increase the safety of commercial non-medical WB-EMS application, recommendations \"for safe and effective whole-body electromyostimulation\" were launched in 2016. However, new developments and trends require an update of these recommendations to incorporate more international expertise with demonstrated experience in the application of WB-EMS. The new version of these consensus-based recommendations has been structured into 1) \"general aspects of WB-EMS\", 2) \"preparation for training\", recommendations for the 3) \"WB-EMS application\" itself and 4) \"safety aspects during and after training\". Key topics particularly addressed are 1) consistent and close supervision of WB-EMS application, 2) mandatory qualification of WB-EMS trainers, 3) anamnesis and corresponding consideration of contraindications prior to WB-EMS, 4) the participant\'s proper preparation for the session, 5) careful preparation of the WB-EMS novice, 6) appropriate regeneration periods between WB-EMS sessions and 7) continuous interaction between trainer and participant at a close physical distance. In summary, we are convinced that the present guideline will contribute to greater safety and effectiveness in the area of non-medical commercial WB-EMS application.

OBJECTIVE: To establish a consensus regarding the multidisciplinary prevention of breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL), taking into account the expert opinion of professional groups from across the world involved in the identification and treatment of breast cancers.
METHODS: International consensus study involving a modified nominal group and Delphi process. A total of 50 preventive strategies representing those used by a range of health disciplines involved in breast cancer care were identified by the nominal group. These strategies were categorised into four subgroups (general recommendations, therapeutic approach, rehabilitation medicine and physiotherapy and dietary recommendations) and presented in survey format to a multidisciplinary panel of experts in a two-round Delphi process. Eleven specialist areas and 15 countries were represented on the panel.
RESULTS: Twenty-seven experts responded to both Delphi rounds, and the mean overall agreement after Round 2 was 85.7%. Of the 50 proposed strategies for preventing BCRL, 48 yielded consensus among experts.
CONCLUSIONS: We report an international consensus for the multidisciplinary prevention of BCRL, setting out recommendations aimed at systematising the care of women with breast cancer. The consensus could provide a platform for the development of standardised clinical guidelines.

The implementation of telemedicine as another tool for patient care in the hospital setting is a challenge for any healthcare system. Given the difficulties and limitations, the International Forum on Internal Medicine (FIMI, for its initials in Spanish) has sponsored this consensus document with 20 scientific societies from 17 countries in Europe and the Americas. The aim was to propose a general framework that allows for the development and implementation of telemedicine in hospital clinical care that would be useful to FIMI member countries. The document we present includes recommendations from the FIMI in its executive summary that intend to guarantee effective, safe, efficient, sustainable, and proportional healthcare interventions based on the best scientific evidence available. The authors believe that this document must be updated within a maximum period of two years.

Documentation is important for quality improvement, education, and research. There is currently a lack of recommendations regarding key aspects of documentation in regional anesthesia. The aim of this study was to establish recommendations for documentation in regional anesthesia.
Following the formation of the executive committee and a directed literature review, a long list of potential documentation components was created. A modified Delphi process was then employed to achieve consensus amongst a group of international experts in regional anesthesia. This consisted of 2 rounds of anonymous electronic voting and a final virtual round table discussion with live polling on items not yet excluded or accepted from previous rounds. Progression or exclusion of potential components through the rounds was based on the achievement of strong consensus. Strong consensus was defined as ≥75% agreement and weak consensus as 50%-74% agreement.
Seventy-seven collaborators participated in both rounds 1 and 2, while 50 collaborators took part in round 3. In total, experts voted on 83 items and achieved a strong consensus on 51 items, weak consensus on 3 and rejected 29.
By means of a modified Delphi process, we have established expert consensus on documentation in regional anesthesia.