Nominal group technique for individuals with cognitive disability: a systematic review

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Disability Studies
• Rehabilitation Science

Background:

• Self-directed health care necessitates considering the perspectives of individuals with cognitive disability.
• The nominal group technique (NGT) is a potential method for eliciting these views.
• A synthesis of methodological considerations for using NGT with this population is lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and synthesize methodological considerations for employing the nominal group technique (NGT) with people with cognitive disability.
• To identify best practices for using NGT to gather health care perspectives from adults with cognitive disability.

Main Methods:

• A systematic review guided by PRISMA protocols was conducted.
• Five databases were searched for peer-reviewed literature published before September 2016.
• Methodological considerations across NGT stages (idea generation, recording, clarification, ranking) were extracted.

Main Results:

• Nine publications from eight studies were included.
• Key methodological considerations included: group size, research question introduction, use of support persons and accessible methods, ranking procedures, and researcher training.
• Specific guidance on adapting NGT for individuals with cognitive disability emerged.

Conclusions:

• The nominal group technique (NGT) shows promise for capturing the health care perspectives of adults with cognitive disability.
• Applying identified methodological considerations can enhance the effectiveness of NGT.
• This approach supports the policy shift towards self-directed health care by ensuring the inclusion of diverse perspectives.