Using the Delphi and Snow Card Techniques to Build Consensus Among Diverse Community and Academic Stakeholders

For which topic were research priorities identified?

public health

In which location was the research priority setting conducted?

North America - USA

Why was it conducted at all?

The New York University - New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (NYU-HHC) Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) used a community based participatory research (CBPR) and consensus-building approach among its community advisory board (CAB) and steering committee (SC) members to formulate research priorities to foster shared research collaborations.

What was the objective?

to identify health and research priorities from the community perspective

What was the outcome?

a ranking list of 6 research areas

How long did the research prioritization take?

March 2010

Which methods were used to identify research priorities?

Delphi

How were the priorities for research identified exactly?

Step 1: Delphi round 1: participants were asked to list the 10 most important health priority areas for the communities they serve and to explain their answers and to list the 10 recommended research activities to be undertaken to act on the health priorities they identified and to explain their answers. Step 2: data processing: responses reviewed, grouped into categories, 21 health priority areas identified. Step 3: Delphi round 2: participants were asked to choose 10 health priority areas and rate its level of priority

Which stakeholders took part?

Community advisory board members: diverse cross-section of New York city's racial and ethnic communities, government, healthcare concerns, social service agencies, and neighborhoods/boroughs. Delphi round 1: 15 participants. Delphi round 2: 15 participants.

How were stakeholders recruited?

Participants were CAB members.

Were stakeholders actively involved or did they just participate?

Stakeholders not only participated but were also actively involved in the research prioritization process: They were part of an advisory board and a steering group. The advisory board participated in the Delphi process. The steering group members were involved in strategic planning.