Research priorities in haemato-oncology nursing: results of a literature review and a Delphi study.
OBJECTIVE
The study aimed to review the nursing haemato-oncology literature followed by a Delphi study to determine research priorities of UK nurses working in haemato-oncology.


METHODS
The review analysed relevant literature from 1996-2008. In the Delphi study, all members of the Royal College of Nursing (UK), Haematology and Bone Marrow Transplant Forum (n=1444) were invited to participate. Data were collected in three sequential rounds of postal questionnaires. Research topics identified in round 1 were used to compile subsequent questionnaires.


RESULTS
A final list of 33 research priorities was identified. Clear research themes emerged from the data including chemotherapy, psychosocial issues and information giving, psychological support needs of nurses, ethical considerations and palliative care, nurse-led services and guidelines.


CONCLUSIONS
Results show both similarities and differences to priorities identified in previous haemopoietic stem cell transplant and cancer nursing studies. Further exploration of priority areas is required but priorities identified in this study provide a good starting point for further exploration and development of research programmes.
NHS Education for Scotland, Forest Grove House, Foresterhill Road, Aberdeen AB25 2ZP, Scotland, United Kingdom. maggie.grundy@nes.scot.nhs.uk
Maggie
M
Grundy
Fery
F
Ghazi
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003697:Delphi Technique; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009726:Nurses / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology; D015399:Nursing Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012106:Research; D012107:Research Design; D012944:Social Support; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom