Implementing clinical databases in endocrine surgery: results from a delphi-method-based survey

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

Purpose Little is known on how experts and clinicians in the endocrine surgical field reflect on the available endocrine surgical databases. This study aims to evaluate current practice of these databases amongst experts in the field to identify needs, challenges, and limitations in developing or improving clinical databases. Methods A (modified) Delphi survey was constructed to gain expert opinion on the current practice of endocrine surgical databases including time management, advantages, and limitations, and on future improvement possibilities. For each statement or topic, consensus of importance was declared when agreement was obtained from two-thirds (67%) of the respondents. Results A total of 30 experts responded to the survey. Of the respondents, 93% (n=28) were currently collecting their endocrine surgical clinical data for research purposes, mostly by themselves 83 % (n=25). Strengths included: comparing their own results with peers, collecting information on outcomes in a standardized way, helping in conducting research and/or setting up prospective trials, using data as a source to benchmark thyroid/parathyroid/adrenal outcomes, and for the use as quality control of surgical outcomes. Clear and user-friendly categories and variables, ongoing monitoring of their appropriateness, user-friendly apps/web browsers, logistic support, auditing on local/national/international level, automated data-input, and training of data collectors were acknowledged as important measures to maximize data completeness. Conclusion Endocrine surgical experts were invited to review current data collection in endocrine surgery. Several suggestions are made to improve current databases, as the existing databases should be adjusted to the needs of the clinical field, as much as possible.