Observed combinations of the decision process used in the reviewed articles.

Initial evaluation of the information was done individually, during a plenary meeting, or no details were reported. Decisions on disease status were made by combining individual scores (individual), in a plenary meeting, or no details were reported. For Additional expert, another expert was consulted to resolve disagreements; for Discussion, disagreements were resolved through discussion with all members; for additional information, extra information was made available to members to resolve disagreements; for voting, disagreements are resolved by choosing the opinion of the majority.aAverages of the panel members were calculated to decide on the disease status. For example, the panel members first assessed the information individually, decided on the diagnosis in a plenary meeting, and resolved disagreement by consulting an additional expert.