Characteristics of Delphi Processes in Orthotics and Prosthetics Research (JPO032-3A)

Characteristics of Delphi Processes in Orthotics and Prosthetics Research (JPO032-3A)

Objective data useful for decision making are lacking in many areas of orthotics and prosthetics clinical practice and education. Because high-level objective evidence is limited, it is difficult to base decisions on published research, and clinical practices are often based disproportionately on the experience and judgment of individual practitioners. Reliance on individual clinical judgment and experience can create variations and disparities in the quality of care and is often not adequate justification for third-party payers. When discussing the challenges of implementing evidence-based practice in rehabilitation, Dijkers observes, “In most instances ...expert consensus supplemented by weak evidence from the research literature likely is preferable over the lone practitioner's intuition.” Consensus can be understood as agreement among a group of experts on a particular question or practice, and it may involve an iterative process of compromise to generate group positions or decisions that are supported by the individual experts.