Delphi round 1

Potential experts were invited via an email with an embedded “Information Sheet for Participants”, which contained detailed information about the study and a link to “Agree” or “Disagree” to take part in the study. Upon acceptance, experts were asked to consent to participation. Specifically, they were informed that accepting the invitation to participate in the study would constitute implied consent. It was only at this point that the panelists were given access to the online survey to evaluate the set of items presented. This was described as Round 1.

In Round 1, panelists were asked to evaluate items in relation to the safety, efficacy, programming, delivery and mechanism of action of IRT, considering the benefits of IRT compared to other exercise training programs used as nonpharmacological therapy. Items were presented in a randomized order, and panelists graded their opinions of each item using a 5-point Likert scale (strongly disagree (1), disagree (2), do not know (3), agree (4) and strongly agree (5)) to indicate their level of agreement. In addition, panelists were encouraged to provide comments to explain their responses, suggest modifications to any of the items or add further items through free-response text feedback.

Responses from Round 1 were analyzed quantitatively using descriptive statistics for the central tendency (median) and distribution width (interquartile range) to present the collective judgments of the panelists. This information, together with panelists’ deidentified comments, suggested modifications and/or additional items, was provided to the panelists as feedback. The panelists’ comments and suggestions informed Round 2, and the panelists were encouraged to reconsider their opinions on any items that had not reached consensus.