Table 3 Transparent Expert Consultation (TEC) considerations and participants

Ethics[20]

(1) Participation in research; (2) Research ethics committee approval; (3) Informed consent

ethicists, academics, researchers, members of research ethics committees, clinicians, service providers, commissioners, patients/carers

Outcomes[22]

(1) Outcome measure properties; (2) Optimal time points; (3) Validity of proxy data

academics, researchers, clinicians, commissioners, experts in outcome measurement

Mixed methods[23]

(1) Phase I and pre-clinical studies; (2) Phase II and III studies and trials; (3) Implementation studies

journal editors, academics, researchers, clinicians, experts in health services research/mixed methodology, patients/carers

Statistics[21]

(1) Missing data; (2) Attrition; (3) Response shift

statisticians, researchers, academics, clinicians, patients/carers

Health economics[24]

(1) Cost methods and relevance to EoLC; (2) Outcome assessment; (3) Equity issues.

health economists, service commissioners, researchers, academics, clinicians, patients/carers

TOTAL