European neonatal intensive care nursing researchpriorities: an e-Delphi study

Objective This study aimed to identify and prioritiseneonatal intensive care nursing research topics acrossEurope using an e-Delphi technique.Design An e-Delphi technique with three questionnairerounds was performed. Qualitative responses of roundone were analysed by content analysis and researchstatements were generated to be ranged on importanceon a scale of 1–6 (not important to most important).Setting Neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in 17European countries.Population NICU clinical nurses, managers, educatorsand researchers (n=75).Intervention None.Main outcome measures A list of 43 researchstatements in eight domains.Results The six highest ranking statements (≥5.0mean score) were related to prevention and reduction ofpain (mean 5.49; SD 1.07), medication errors (mean5.20; SD 1.13), end-of-life care (mean 5.05; SD 1.18),needs of parents and family (mean 5.04; SD 1.23),implementing evidence into nursing practice (mean 5.02;SD 1.03), and pain assessment (mean 5.02; SD 1.11).The research domains were prioritised and ranked:(1) pain and stress; (2) family centred care; (3) clinicalnursing care practices; (4) quality and safety; (5) ethics;(6) respiratory and ventilation; (7) infection andinflammation; and (8) professional issues in neonatalintensive care nursing.Conclusions The results of this study might support developing a nursing research strategy for the nursingsection of the European Society of Paediatric andNeonatal Intensive Care. In addition, this may promotemore European researcher collaboratives for neonatalnursing research