An inclusive, online Delphi process for setting targets for best practice implementation for spinal cord injury

The Spinal Cord Injury Knowledge Mobilization Network is a pan-Canadian community of practice composed of seven rehabilitation hospitals. The goal of this network is to utilize implementation science processes to facilitate the adoption of best practice in spinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation. In addition to selecting specific practices for implementation, a key aspect of effective implementation is the engagement of stakeholders in decision-making processes. To achieve this, the network utilized a Delphi process to reach consensus on two pressure ulcer prevention and management practices to be implemented in SCI inpatient rehabilitation. A diverse, multidisciplinary panel of clinicians, researchers, sponsoring agency representatives, and persons with SCI participated in this process.

An online Delphi process was conducted in order to prioritize pressure ulcer prevention and management best practice recommendations and performance indicators for implementation. The process was conducted in six stages: (1) steering committee selection; (2) identification and selection of evidence; (3) participant selection and recruitment; (4) survey development; (5) identification of voting criteria; and (6) five rounds of voting.

The Delphi process resulted in the selection of two best practices: (1) comprehensive risk assessment and (2) education for pressure ulcer prevention and management in persons with SCI.

In this Delphi process, a large expert panel achieved consensus on best practice recommendations and associated performance indicators for implementation. This process was undertaken as a first step towards optimization of service delivery and outcomes for persons with SCI across Canada.