Description of the two-phase RAND/UCLA modified Delphi study steps to develop the PriCARE patient classification
| Phase | Study step | Description |
| Phase I questionnaire development | The investigators prepare a drafted version of the phase I questionnaire based on a comprehensive list of CCI interventions used in the NACRS database | |
| Phase I questionnaire refinement | The drafted version will be distributed to a pilot committee and investigators for edit and comment. Revisions made by the investigators | |
| Recruitment of expert committee | See Recruitment and consent for the details of recruitment | |
| I | Round 1 | The round 1 questionnaire will be distributed to each expert. Each will be asked to rate all interventions based on their applicability to be conducted in a sub-acute centre |
| Analysis of round 1 and feedback | Results of round 1 will be collected by the investigators and transcribed into a feedback form that will be distributed to each expert committee participant (their individual scores compared against the aggregate) | |
| Videoconference debrief 1 | A videoconference debrief will be held to discuss the rating results of round 1. Particular attention will be given to the interventions which did not receive consensus | |
| Round 2 | The round 2 questionnaire containing all subsequent interventions which did not receive consensus will be distributed to the experts | |
| Analysis of round 2 and feedback | Results of round 2 will be collected by the investigators and transcribed into a feedback form that will be distributed to each expert committee participant | |
| Videoconference debrief 2 | A videoconference debrief will be held to discuss the rating results of round 2 | |
| Phase II questionnaire development | The investigators will develop the phase II questionnaire, which will use the results of phase I, with the addition of factors on patients, ED and acuity to create several variations of a PriCARE classification | |
| II | Round 1 | The round 1 questionnaire will be distributed to each expert. Experts will be asked to rank each variation of a PriCARE classification for appropriateness of capturing primary care–like ED visits that have a visit disposition of the desired outcomes. See Intervention and Data collection for further details |
| Analysis of round 1 and feedback | Results of round 1 will be collected by the investigators and transcribed into a feedback form that will be distributed to each expert committee participant | |
| Videoconference debrief 1 | A videoconference debrief will be held to discuss the ranking results of round 1 | |
| Subsequent rounds | Subsequent rounds of questionnaires, analysis of results, feedback and videoconferencing will commence until a consensus of a PriCARE classification is reached | |
| Analysis of the classification | The PriCARE classification will be analysed in the IC/ES ED NACRS dataset for associations in patient-level characteristics |