Table 2.

Steps, processes and methodological options used in the different Delphi studies included in the literature review.

Steps and Procedures	Methodological Options	Study
Preparatory procedures	-Literature review	[60,61,62,63,64,67,68,72,73,74]
	-Literature review and expert consultation (focus groups and discussion groups)	[59,60,61,63,66,71,73]
	-Deliberation among the research team regarding the components to be presented for evaluation to the Delphi panel	[66,67,71,75]
	-No preparatory procedures	[65,70,76,77]
Expert access procedures	-The experts were recruited conveniently through direct and exclusive contact initiated by research team members	[60,63,77]
	-Recruitment by referencing and snowball method	[59,65,67]
	-Experts recruited by identifying them through online platforms of organisations pertinent to the study area of specific competence	[59,75]
	-Recruitment through direct contact with relevant organisations in certain areas of expertise	[63,71,73]
	-Recruitment through electronic newsletters, institutional online websites, and scientific meetings	[69,75]
	-Recruitment by reviewing papers relevant to a particular area of expertise	[77]
Call for expert participation procedures	-Email	[59,65,69,70,71,73,75]
	-Telephone contact and face-to-face contact promoted by the researchers	[69]
	-Face-to-face contact by reference elements identified by the research team in the professional practice contexts from which the experts came	[72]
Expert selection procedures	-Selection process involved representing various facets, sensitivities, and current understandings of the topic	[69,72,76]
	-Selection was conducted based on criteria related to the specificity and nature of the position held by the expert	[59,60,61,64,65,66,67,69,70,71,73,74,76,78,79]
	-Selection process considered geographical and cultural differences as criteria	[59,67,77]
	-Selection based on the experts’ professional experience relevant to the topic under study	[60,62,63,64,66,67,68,69,71,72,73,77]
	-Selection based on the expert’s express indication of willingness to participate in the study	[60,67,70]
Instrumentation	-Electronic questionnaire	[59,61,69,70,72,73,74,76]
	-Postal questionnaire	[77,78]
	-Semi-structured interview (telephone, face-to-face or group dynamics) and questionnaire	[60,63,65,66]
Data analysis	-Content analysis, establishing a structure of categories and thematic areas (domains and subdomains) or statements	[65,69,72,77]
	-Absolute frequencies and relative frequencies, mean and standard deviation	[60,65,70,73,78]
	-Content Validity Index (CVI)	[61,62,63,66,67,68,69,70,72,73,74,76]
	-Mean and standard deviation	[63,70,73,75,78]
	-Expert coordination coefficient (Kendall’s W) and coefficient of variation (CV)	[60,64,66,67,71]
	-Weighted Kappa coefficient (Kw)	[67]