Research priorities of Australian cancer nurses : A national consensus survey

Background: It is essential to investigating research priorities of cancer nurses to advance the field and keep pace with the ever-changing needs of patients, the workforce and evidence. Aim: To identify and prioritise research priorities of cancer nurses across Australia. Methods: A three-round online survey with feedback was used to identify and rank research priority topics nominated by cancer nurses. Topics were themed and grouped into domains. We defined consensus a priori as > 70% agreement. Findings: Two hundred and fifty-five respondents participated in the first round, identifying 995 topics which we grouped into three broad domains: patient-reported outcomes and experiences; health services; and workforce. A large sub-domain, side-effects and symptoms was included under the patient-reported outcomes and experiences domain. Thirty-seven topics under these four domains were included in the second survey round. Eighty-seven respondents re-ranked topics in order of priority. Most (80%) topics ranked by count in the first survey round were retained in the top five priorities for each domain in the second survey. Ten respondents participated in the final survey round. Agreement was reached by 75% on the ranked order of priorities. These research priorities highlight the breadth of complexity in providing nursing care to patients with cancer. Discussion and Conclusion: Research priorities are important in focusing efforts and directing resources around nursing education and training, career development, and research funding. Ultimately addressing the identified priorities is critical to reducing current gaps in cancer care and achieving optimal outcomes for people affected by cancer.