DELPHI PROCESS TO ACHIEVE GLOBAL CONSENSUS ON GENDER EQUITY IN CRITICAL CARE

INTRODUCTION: Gender inequalities in healthcare, including among critical care professionals, have been widely recognized over the last decade. Significant gender disparities persist in areas including leadership, academia, research, workplace remuneration, and medical publication among critical care professionals.Furthermore, there remains a notable gap in knowledge and awareness regarding gender equity (all genders) and inclusivity among healthcare professionals.

Given the limited research and evidence on these issues, we propose employing the Delphi methodology to generate consensus among global critical care practitioners on position statements aimed at addressing gender equity (all genders) in critical care.

 OBJECTIVES: To generate consensus among a diverse panel of critical care practitioners, scientists, and researchers on the strategic measures to achieve gender equity in critical care within healthcare institutions, professional societies, organizations, and boards in various professional domains.

METHODOLOGY: An International Steering Committee (SC) comprised of healthcare professionals involved in the advocacy of gender equity among professionals working in the field of critical care medicine has been constituted. The Steering Committee will select a diverse global panel

 STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: A descriptive analysis of each Delphi round will be performed and cumulative voting will be used for consensus. Consensus will be defined as at least 75% of panelists agreeing or disagreeing with a Likert-scale statement or selecting a specific option in multiple-choice questions. The stability of the responses will be evaluated by non-parametric chi-square tests or Kruskal-Wallis test from round two onwards. A response will be considered stable if the p-value is 0.05 when comparing results across two consecutive rounds. Statements will continue through the Delphi rounds until stability is attained. Final position statements will be those that demonstrate both consensus and stability.