Introduction The Delphi method is a technique for reaching consensus by a group of experts that express their opinion on a particular issue. It has been widely used in different areas of knowledge, including health sciences. Rheumatology is one of the medical specialties that has most widely used this consensus technique. Objectives To review the ideal process for implementing the Delphi method. To describe the current impact of the Delphi method on health research, and take a critical look at its application in rheumatology research. Materials and Methods The frequency of use of the Delphi method in publications indexed in MEDLINE was evaluated, as an approach to measure its use in health sciences. A search of the articles reporting the use of the Delphi method as a research tool in rheumatology was conducted. Results A total of 4,574 articles were found when searching Medline using the MeSH “Delphi Technique”. The analysis included 148 articles that applied the Delphi method in rheumatology research. According to the findings, the application of the method did not follow the guidelines originally defined, either because of failure to meet its distinctive characteristics, or because of omission of one its phases, or lack of rigor in the implementation of the different phases; so much so, that in the end, only one fifth of the articles analyzed met the distinctive characteristics of the methodology, which could jeopardize the validity of the research results reported. Conclusions There is a growing trend to use the Delphi method in health research, and rheumatology is no exception. The lack of standardization and failure to adhere to the Delphy methodology may jeopardize the validity of the results obtained from its use in research. Researchers should take into account the basic methodological premises of the Delphi method and include them in their work.