A Delphi Study to Establish Research Priorities for Neuroscience Nursing.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience Nursing
• Healthcare Research Prioritization

Background:

• Establishing research priorities is vital for evidence-based nursing practice.
• Directing research agendas for organizations like the American Association of Neuroscience Nursing is essential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and establish research priorities in neuroscience nursing.
• To enhance research collaboration within the field of neuroscience nursing.

Main Methods:

• A 6-member task force conducted a literature search to identify potential research priorities.
• A 2-round modified Delphi methodology using electronic surveys distributed to 53 experts was employed.
• Survey data included demographics, agreement on research gaps, and perceived impact of research topics.

Main Results:

• Round 1: 39 topics achieved >=73% agreement, with a new category "Professional Practice Issues" added.
• Round 2: 14 topics were ranked >=70% impactful, establishing them as top neuroscience nursing research priorities.
• Response rates were 49% in round 1 (26 experts) and 57% in round 2 (30 experts).

Conclusions:

• The study successfully created a list of research priorities for neuroscience nursing.
• Setting these priorities can improve patient outcomes by addressing literature gaps.
• These priorities will guide nurse scientists, educators, providers, and funding agencies.