Exclusion criteria:
- Systematic reviews of outcomes
- Qualitative studies identifying important outcomes, without any form
of prioritization
- COS studies focusing only on the child (no outcomes related to the
women)
- COS studies relating to interventions/conditions prior to pregnancy,
such as in vitro fertilization, contraceptives use etc.
Information sources and search strategy.
Studies were identified by searching electronic databases and by
scanning the reference lists of studies meeting the eligibility
criteria, and of relevant systematic reviews. The electronic databases
MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, Academic Search Elite, CINAHL with Full Text
and SocINDEX with Full Text and the Core Outcome Measures in
Effectiveness Trials (COMET) Initiative database were searched up to
June 2019. Subsequently, the search of the COMET Initiative database was
updated in January 2020.
Electronic searches were conducted using a combination of medical
subject headings (MeSH) and relevant text word terms related to the
population, in combination with different terms related to core outcome
set. (For detailed information about the search strategies, Appendix
S1.)
Identification of
studies
Two reviewers (MÖ and CH) independently screened the titles and
abstracts for eligibility. The abstracts were screened and rated using
the scanning tool Rayyan, available online (7). Full text articles were
retrieved and reviewed to determine eligibility, independently and in
duplicate by two authors (CH and MÖ). Disagreements were resolved by
discussion. The reference lists of studies meeting the eligibility
criteria and of relevant systematic reviews were screened for additional
relevant studies.
Description of methodology in included studies
In order to check the description
of the methodology in the included studies, a checklist was compiled
using the items from the COS-STAR reporting guide. One further question
was added to the checklist: “Are researchers as well as healthcare
providers and patients included in the development process?” (Appendix
S2). Two of the authors (CH and MÖ) independently reviewed the included
articles according to the checklist Disagreements were resolved by
discussion.
Data items
The following information was extracted from the included trials:
Population, intervention, setting for intended use, consensus method,
number and characteristics of participants, number of outcomes at the
start of the project and number of outcomes in the final COS, consensus
criteria and the degree of compliance with COS-STAR.
Data were extracted from each included study and tabled by one reviewer.
A second reviewer audited the data extraction. Any disagreements were
resolved by discussion.
Since the results were not suitable for synthesis, the included studies
are described narratively.