 
1 
S1 Table. CREDES checklist. 
Items of reporting 
Reported on 
page 
Purpose and rationale. The purpose of the study should be clearly defined and 
demonstrate the appropriateness of the use of the Delphi technique as a 
method to achieve the research aim. A rationale for the choice of the Delphi 
technique as the most suitable method needs to be provided. 
4 
Expert panel. Criteria for the selection of experts and transparent information 
on recruitment of the expert panel, sociodemographic details including 
information on expertise regarding the topic in question, (non)response and 
response rates over the ongoing iterations should be reported. 
5, 8-9 
Description of the methods. The methods employed need to be 
comprehensible; this includes information on preparatory steps (How was 
available evidence on the topic in question synthesised?), piloting of material 
and survey instruments, design of the survey instrument(s), the number and 
design of survey rounds, methods of data analysis, processing and synthesis 
of experts’ responses to inform the subsequent survey round and 
methodological decisions taken by the research team throughout the process. 
4-7 
Procedure. Flow chart to illustrate the stages of the Delphi process, including a 
preparatory phase, the actual ‘Delphi rounds’, interim steps of data processing 
and analysis, and concluding steps. 
Fig 1 
Definition and attainment of consensus. It needs to be comprehensible to the 
reader how consensus was achieved throughout the process, including 
strategies to deal with non-consensus. 
4 
Results. Reporting of results for each round separately is highly advisable in 
order to make the evolving of consensus over the rounds transparent. This 
includes figures showing the average group response, changes between 
rounds, as well as any modifications of the survey instrument such as deletion, 
addition or modification of survey items based on previous rounds. 
8-11,  
Table 2, 
S5-S7 Tables 
 
Discussion of limitations. Reporting should include a critical reflection of 
potential limitations and their impact of the resulting guidance. 
14-15 
Adequacy of conclusions. The conclusions should adequately reflect the 
outcomes of the Delphi study with a view to the scope and applicability of the 
resulting practice guidance. 
16 
Publication and dissemination.  
- 
 

Factors associated with high-level endurance performance: An expert consensus derived via the Delphi technique.
Konopka, Magdalena J,Zeegers, Maurice P,Solberg, Paul A,Delhaije, Louis,Meeusen, Romain,Ruigrok, Geert,Rietjens, Gerard,Sperlich, Billy