Methodological reflections to support good practice in using nominal group techniques: Insights from applications in...

Area of Science:

• Palliative Care
• Clinical Practice Guidelines
• Health Services Research

Background:

• High-quality clinical recommendations are essential for improving patient care.
• Expert consensus methods like the nominal group technique (NGT) are used in palliative and end-of-life care.
• Practical challenges in NGT are often underestimated, potentially compromising recommendation quality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To reflect on the methodological challenges of using NGT for developing recommendations.
• To identify factors that can undermine the rigor and quality of recommendations derived from NGT.
• To offer suggestions for improving the NGT process in palliative care research.

Main Methods:

• Methodological reflections based on theoretical foundations of NGT.
• Analysis of NGT applications in palliative care research, including a Taiwanese study.
• Identification of key issues: omission of pilot meetings, underestimation of practical challenges, cultural factors, and underutilization of data.

Main Results:

• Pilot meetings are often omitted, hindering demonstration of research rigor.
• Practical challenges (time constraints, real-world uncertainties) during NGT stages are underestimated.
• Cultural nuances (e.g., politeness norms affecting interaction) and data underutilization can compromise recommendation quality.

Conclusions:

• Conducting and reporting pilot meetings is crucial for ensuring research rigor.
• Adequate time allocation and consideration of cultural etiquettes are necessary for effective NGT.
• Further qualitative analysis of meeting transcripts can enhance recommendation applicability and clarity.