A Delphi study on the research priorities of European oncology nurses

The importance of establishing priorities for cancer nursing research has been repeatedly acknowledged (Corner 1993, Hunt 2001). A Delphi survey designed to capture research priorities of European cancer nurses was undertaken to document issues perceived as important to European Oncology Nursing Society (EONS) members and to set priorities to underpin an evolving research strategy. The survey comprised three phases, beginning at the second EONS Spring Convention (2000) when European cancer nurses were approached to complete a phase 1 questionnaire. In phase 2, research priority categories generated from responses to the phase 1 questionnaire were reviewed by a group of European cancer nurses. The categories and the placement of all the research questions within these categories were comprehensively reviewed. The final phase involved the distribution of the second questionnaire. Two hundred and twenty three nurses responded to the first questionnaire and 117 responded to the second questionnaire. Prioritisation of research categories reflected diverse views between respondents, with many categories receiving similar overall scores, of almost equal priority. Nonetheless, a number of categories demonstrated high priority throughout Europe namely needs of patients related to communication, information and education; symptom management; experiences of disease and its treatment; cancer nursing research issues (e.g. research facilitation) and cancer nursing education issues. It is recommended that future research examines clusters of research questions around the highest ranked priorities. This may provide both direction and focus to European-wide cancer nursing research, whilst ensuring clinically relevant investigation.