Core outcome set for burn care research: Delphi survey data

Background: Collated evidence from systematic reviews supports clinicians in identifying optimal treatment for patients. Evidence is created from outcomes that, in burn care, include survival, function, cosmesis, pain, and psychological well-being. Currently, this is limited because of variation in outcomes reported across trials. Improved selection and reporting of outcomes in primary research in burn care could improve treatment globally by improving data synthesis and the quality of evidence. The availability of a Core Outcome Set (COS), a minimum set of the most important outcomes to be reported in all trials of a medical condition, would resolve this issue. The aim of this study is to develop a COS for international burn care research.
Methods and findings: Candidate outcomes were identified from systematic reviews and stakeholder interviews. Through two rounds of a Delphi survey, international multi-disciplinary clinicians, researchers, and UK patients and carers prioritised the o...