Presentation (CTI)

OBJECTIVES: Patient engagement (PE) is a cornerstone of high-quality, evidence-based healthcare. However, traditional structured consensus development methods (SCDM) Delphi panels, nominal group techniques, are expert-driven and resource-intensive, limiting meaningful PE in both development of healthcare outcomes and decision-making frameworks. Current evidence on digital methods remains fragmented, inconsistently evaluated, and often inaccessible to diverse populations. To assess the use of digital platforms in enabling PE in SCDM including: (1) the co-development of healthcare tools and outcome measures, and (2) implementation of SCDM.
METHODS: A targeted literature review (TLR) was conducted in MEDLINE and EMBASE using search terms to identify peer-reviewed global studies within three domains; digital tools, PE, and SCDM.
RESULTS: Preliminary search results showed roughly one-third of identified articles using SCDM (115,488) incorporated digital tool keywords (36,904). When full search terms were applied 92 studies published since 2014 were identified for title and abstract review; 15 met inclusion criteria of clear use of PE, digital tools, or SCDM, and were included in analysis. PE tools used included web-based portals (5), mobile apps (4), telehealth systems (1), and social media platforms (1). PE strategies ranged from real-time consultation to asynchronous co-construction. Evaluated outcomes were usability, patient satisfaction, literacy, and decision confidence. Benefits included improved accessibility and empowerment, though persistent barriers including digital literacy, limited diversity, and weak care system integration remained.
CONCLUSIONS: Digital tools hold strong potential for equitable, scalable solutions to PE in consensus and outcome development. Reviewed published studies showed that digital platforms can be used both to develop care tools (e.g., decision aids, pathways) and to support structured decision-making. However, a minority of studies explicitly integrate digital tools within SCDM. Developing frameworks for diverse settings requires co-creation, equity, accessibility, and transparent, rigorous methods. We recommend that new guidance be developed to support the integration of digital tools in SCDM efforts at scale.