FAQ
Why is PHES-EF needed?
Public health environmental surveillance, such as wastewater-based surveillance, expanded rapidly during the COVID-19 pandemic, but there is still no agreed way to evaluate how well these systems work. PHES-EF will provide a shared framework for doing so. Read more on the About page.
What is a Delphi consensus study?
The Delphi method is an iterative, multi-round survey approach that uses controlled feedback to build consensus among a group of people while keeping their responses anonymous (1,2). PHES-EF will use an online (e-Delphi) survey with two rounds, followed by a consensus meeting. See the Delphi study page for details.
When will the study take place?
Registration for e-Delphi panellists will open in January 2027. Round 1 will run in March 2027, Round 2 will run from April to May 2027, and the consensus meeting will be held in September or October 2027. See the study timeline for details.
Who is eligible to participate in the study?
The eligibility criteria for e-Delphi survey panellists can be found on the Delphi study page.
What will I be asked to do?
In Round 1, you will rate whether each candidate item in your expertise pathway should be included in the framework, using a 7-point scale, and you can suggest new items. In Round 2, you will rate new items and re-rate items that did not reach consensus on four properties. You can try an example question on the Work to date page.
How long will the survey take?
Each round will take about an hour to complete and will stay open for about five weeks, so you can complete it when it suits you. There will be two rounds. See the Delphi study page for details.
How will my data be used and protected?
Only anonymous responses will be used for analysis. All data will be password protected, and only approved members of the study working group at the Ottawa Hospital will have access. Anonymous aggregate data will be shared on our Open Science Framework (OSF) project page when the study is complete. See the declarations on the About page for details on ethics approval and privacy.
Where can I find study documents?
The study protocol, scoping review protocols, executive group Terms of Reference, presentations and recruitment materials are on the Documents page and our OSF project page.