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Essential variables for reporting research studies on fetal growth restriction: a Delphi consensus
Author(s) -
Khalil A.,
Gordijn S. J.,
Beune I. M.,
Wynia K.,
Ganzevoort W.,
Figueras F.,
Kingdom J.,
Marlow N.,
Papageorghiou A. T.,
Sebire N.,
Zeitlin J.,
Baschat A. A.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
ultrasound in obstetrics and gynecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.202
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1469-0705
pISSN - 0960-7692
DOI - 10.1002/uog.19196
Subject(s) - medicine , delphi method , likert scale , obstetrics , birth weight , apgar score , gestational age , pregnancy , umbilical artery , pediatrics , fetus , statistics , mathematics , biology , genetics
Objective To determine, by expert consensus using a Delphi procedure, a minimum reporting set of study variables for fetal growth restriction (FGR) research studies. Methods A panel of experts, identified based on their publication record as lead or senior author of studies on FGR, was asked to select a set of essential reporting study parameters from a literature‐based list of variables, utilizing the Delphi consensus methodology. Responses were collected in four consecutive rounds by online questionnaires presented to the panelists through a unique token‐secured link for each round. The experts were asked to rate the importance of each parameter on a five‐point Likert scale. Variables were selected in the three first rounds based on a 70% threshold for agreement on the Likert‐scale scoring. In the final round, retained parameters were categorized as essential (to be reported in all FGR studies) or recommended (important but not mandatory). Results Of the 100 invited experts, 87 agreed to participate and of these 62 (71%) completed all four rounds. Agreement was reached for 16 essential and 30 recommended parameters including maternal characteristics, prenatal investigations, prenatal management and pregnancy/neonatal outcomes. Essential parameters included hypertensive complication in the current pregnancy, smoking, parity, maternal age, fetal abdominal circumference, estimated fetal weight, umbilical artery Doppler (pulsatility index and end‐diastolic flow), fetal middle cerebral artery Doppler, indications for intervention, pregnancy outcome (live birth, stillbirth or neonatal death), gestational age at delivery, birth weight, birth‐weight centile, mode of delivery and 5‐min Apgar score. Conclusions We present a list of essential and recommended parameters that characterize FGR independent of study hypotheses. Uniform reporting of these variables in prospective clinical research is expected to improve data quality, study consistency and ultimately our understanding of FGR. Copyright © 2018 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.