Reaching a consensus on priorities for nursing research in Europe

Following a number of informal conversations between representatives of European National Nursing Associations (NNAs) regarding their European research needs and priorities and the best ways of realising them, the Danish Nursing Organisation hosted a meeting of NNAs in April 2008 to explore perspectives. At this 'Copenhagen meeting' a wide-ranging discussion took place and a number of priorities were proposed. These included a focus on the consumers (or users) of research evidence as well as a focus on the producers (or doers) of research. A synopsis of the priorities proposed at the 'Copenhagen meeting' is listed at the end of this page.

In order to progress this agenda, it was agreed that a Delphi type survey (see below) would enable NNAs to reach a consensus position. Ordem dos Enfermeiros (OE - Portugal), Royal College of Nursing (RCN - United Kingdom) and Deutscher Berufsverband für Pflegeberufe (DBfK - Germany) are working together to co-ordinate the survey. Their purpose was twofold:

(i) to reach a consensus on the collective prioritises of European NNAs in relation to nursing research in Europe
(ii) to reach agreement on the most efficient and effective means of realising these priorities.  

A three-stage process was proposed.  The first two stages involved a modified Delphi technique (Keeney S, Hasson F, and McKenna H 2004; McKenna H 1994; Mead and Moseley 2001). A first survey invited each NNA to list up to 10 priorities, in rank order, in relation to nursing research in Europe. A second survey was undertaken to reach an overall consensus on priorities and these findings were presented at the General Assembly meeting of the European Federation of Nurses' Associations in Stockholm in October 2009. Shortly after the Stockholm meeting the priorities were finalised. They are: 

  • identify/develop research evidence to underpin European Union (EU) lobbying for the benefit of nurses and nursing
  • lobby for the inclusion of a nursing perspective in all European national research agencies, ensuring that nurses are participating in national research development and budget setting
  • identify/develop research evidence to underpin nursing care for the benefit of patients and those living in Europe
  • identify support mechanisms for nurses in those countries with fewer professional development opportunities.

A final survey aimed at reaching an agreement on the most efficient and effective means of realising the agreed priorities is currently underway.

References

Kenney S, Hasson F, and McKenna H 2004 "A critical review of the Delphi technique as a research methodology for nursing" International Journal of Nursing Studies, vol. 38, no. 2, pp. 195-200

McKenna H 1994 "The Delphi Technique:  a worthwhile research approach for nusing?", Journal of Advanced Nursing, vol. 19, no. 6, pp. 1221-1225

Mead, D and Moseley, L. 2001, "The use of the Delphi as a research approach."  Nurse Researcher, vol. 8, no. 4, pp. 4-23