Development of Context-Adapted Quality Indicators for Early Sepsis Care in Sub-Saharan Africa - A Modified Delphi Consensus Procedure

The expert panel will be recruited through purposive sampling via existing national and international sepsis networks (including the Sub-Saharan African Consortium for the Advancement of Innovative Research and Care in Africa, "STAIRS"), scientific collaborations, and personal invitations from the study team in Berlin.

Invited are professionals with proven experience in sepsis care or sepsis research n sub-Saharan Africa, including physicians, nurses, researchers, and other healthcare professionals involved in acute care and quality assurance.

For the first Delphi round, we plan to recruit approximately 10-15 experts. In a second recruitment phase, participants may nominate additional experts with relevant expertise (snowball sampling). The total number of panel members should not exceed 30-45.

Inclusion criteria

• Professionals with proven experience in sepsis care or sepsis research in low- and middle-income countries, particularly Sub-Saharan Africa including physicians, nurses, researchers, and other healthcare professionals involved in early acute care and quality assurance
• Minimum age of 18
• Willingness to voluntarily participate in one or more Delphi rounds

Exclusion criteria

• Lack of professional expertise in the field of sepsis care
• Refusal to consent to participation
• Withdrawal from participation at the participant's own request