When developing the final list of outcomes for inclusion in a core outcome set (COS), many COS developers will hold a face-to-face consensus meeting with stakeholders. Owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, COS developers have recently had to hold their consensus meetings online. To develop guidance for COS developers, COMET convened a workshop with individuals who had been involved in the planning and delivery of such online consensus meetings.

Workshop attendees were identified as individuals who were known to COMET and had planned, facilitated, or participated in online consensus meetings. The workshop was held in February 2021, with 14 attendees joining virtually from the UK, Ireland, Amsterdam, USA, Canada, and Australia (see Appendix). In advance of the meeting, attendees were asked to complete a short email survey about their experience in organising face-to-face and online consensus meetings and the advantages and disadvantages of each. During the workshop, members of the group shared details of what they learned to inform future online consensus meetings. The key issues to consider have been summarised below, including a table of advantages and disadvantages of online consensus meetings.