As a tool for building consensus among groups, Delphi technique has been widely used in healthcare research which is appropriate for clinical questions where quantitative methods are unlikely to yield results that can be successfully implemented in practice. Researchers in palliative care developed standards for conducting and reporting Delphi studies (CREDES). This paper introduces and interprets the specific content of CREDES standards, with a view to providing reference for the evaluation of Delphi research design quality and report transparency.
Objective To construct a nursing sensitive index system for limb blood circulation monitoring, to guide clinical nursing practice, and provide a scientific basis for the evaluation and management of limb blood circulation monitoring nursing quality. Methods The Chinese and English databases such as China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, VIP, PubMed, and Web of Science were searched from the establishment of the database to April 1st, 2024. Using the structure-process-outcome three-dimensional quality system model as the theoretical basis, and through semi-structured interviews, an expert letter consultation questionnaire containing 3 first-level indicators, 9 second-level indicators and 30 third-level indicators was developed. The final nursing sensitive index system of limb blood circulation monitoring were determined through two rounds of expert consultation. Results A total of 25 experts participated in the questionnaire survey. The positive coefficients of the two rounds of expert consultation were 96% (24/25) and 100% (24/24), respectively, the expert authority coefficient was 0.906. The final nursing sensitive index system included 3 first-level indicators, 6 second-level indicators and 21 third-level indicators. All the indicators were closely related to limb blood circulation monitoring, and the quality of specialized nursing work of limb blood circulation monitoring was comprehensively improved from the three dimensions of structural indicators, process indicators, and outcome indicators. Conclusion The nursing sensitive index system of limb blood circulation monitoring has strong specialty, it not only clarifies the specific content of limb blood circulation monitoring and nursing work, but also systematically constructs the requirements and standards of the quality management level of blood circulation monitoring, which is scientific and practical.
ObjectiveTo develop a risk prediction scale for 6-month mortality in elderly patients with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and provide a theoretical basis for creating tools to predict survival in this patient population. Methods A literature review was conducted to identify and extract risk factors associated with 6-month mortality in elderly patients with advanced COPD, forming the initial item pool for the scale. A Delphi method was employed, involving two rounds of correspondence with 17 multidisciplinary experts through a designed questionnaire. Items were comprehensively screened based on the arithmetic mean of item importance, coefficient of variation, and full score frequency to determine the final scale. ResultsThe effective response rates for the two rounds of expert correspondence were 94.12% and 100.00%, respectively. The expert authority coefficients were both ≥0.90 (0.93 and 0.90, respectively). The Kendall's coefficients of concordance were 0.28 and 0.26 (both P<0.05), indicating good coordination and authority among the experts and reliable results from the correspondence. The final constructed risk prediction scale for short-term mortality in elderly patients with advanced COPD includes 10 primary items and 55 secondary items. The 10 primary items are as follows: demographic characteristics, prognostic prediction, disease course, complications, comorbidity status, geriatric syndromes, signs/symptoms, COPD symptom scores, examination/laboratory indicators, and COPD treatment. ConclusionsThe Delphi-based risk prediction scale for 6-month mortality in elderly patients with advanced COPD is reliable and objective, and is expected to be a valuable tool to predict survival in this patient population.
Objective To develop and preliminarily evaluate a case management-based care program for preschool children with epilepsy. Methods The study consisted of three phases: a cross-sectional survey of 22 hospitals, development of the care program via Delphi method (17 experts), and a non-concurrent controlled trial involving 104 children (52 each in control and intervention groups). Results The developed program comprised 6 domains and 33 items. After one month of intervention, the intervention group showed significantly higher medication adherence (P=0.012) and caregiver knowledge scores (P<0.001) compared to the control group. Conclusion The case management-based care program is feasible and effective in improving medication adherence and caregiver knowledge in preschool children with epilepsy.
