Global Consensus on Critical Care Nursing Research Priorities: A Modified Delphi Study

Abstract

Background

Some studies reported research priorities for adult critical care nurses (Egerod et al., 2020, George et al., 2020). However the changing nature of health systems and the recent pandemic raise the question of whether these findings are contemporaneous and internationally relevant. Protocol and progress on the study are provided in this presentation.

Aim

The aim of this study is to describe contemporary global research priorities in adult critical care nursing.

Method

A modified eDelphi method using a 4-round online survey is utilized with an expert panel of international critical care nurses (George et al., 2020, Iqbal and Pipon-Young, 2009). The e-Delphi is the most timely and cost-effective way to obtain consensus (Nasa et al, 2021). In the initial round, panel members were asked to indicate 5 research priorities. Findings from this round will be grouped thematically into survey items (research priority areas). In round 2, panel members will be asked to rate survey items using a 9-point ordinal scale to indicate strength of agreement. Items that do not achieve the pre-set consensus level, will be sent to panel members in a 3^rd round. When all research priorities are identified, panel members will be asked to rank the research priorities (round 4) in terms of contemporary importance by placing them in order of importance. The World Federation of Critical Care Nurses global network will be used  to identify a purposive sample of critical care nursing experts working in association with adult intensive care units (n = 100) (Williams et al., 2023). This study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Hospital Alemán, Argentina (ProtV2-05-02-23/PRIISA17feb23).

Conclusion

Findings of this study will potentially be crucial for governments, academic institutions,  and healthcare organizations to make decisions about research funding and needs.  This will help to fill in the current gaps in the literature and may generate knowledge that improve patient care in the adult critical care settings.