ASPAN's Delphi Study on National Research: Priorities for Perianesthesia Nurses in the United States

For which topic were research priorities identified?

perianesthesia

In which location was the research priority setting conducted?

North America - USA

Why was it conducted at all?

Prudent nursing practice mandates the best, scientific evidence available. The complexity of perianesthesia practice, management, and education, coupled with required competencies within these domains, generate problems demanding answers. ASPAN's financial and human resources, however, are limited. Therefore, ASPAN must be able to articulate research priorities.

What was the objective?

to identify and prioritize the research questions related to perianesthesia practice, management, and education

What was the outcome?

a ranking list of 24 research questions

How long did the research prioritization take?

January 2007 - May 2007

Which methods were used to identify research priorities?

Delphi

How were the priorities for research identified exactly?

Step 1: Delphi round 1: collecting research problems, total of 405 research problems submitted. Step 2: data processing: reviewing submissions, refining to 165 research questions. Step 3: Delphi round 2: survey with 165 questions, participants were asked to rate each question. Step 4: Delphi round 3: participants were asked to re-rate each question

Which stakeholders took part?

Perianesthesia experts within the ASPAN membership. Delphi round 1: 78 participants. Delphi round 2: 65 participants. Delphi round 3: 61 participants.

How were stakeholders recruited?

A panel of 120 nurses was selected from various ASPAN nurse experts actively engaged in the clinical practice, education, research, and/or management of perianesthesia patients (inpatient or outpatient).

Were stakeholders actively involved or did they just participate?

Stakeholders were mere participants of the research prioritization process; they were not actively involved in the process.