Using a Modified Nominal Group Technique to Elicit Director of Nursing Input for an Osteoporosis Intervention

Levine, Deborah A.; Saag, Kenneth G.; Casebeer, Linda L.; Colon-Emeric, Cathleen; Lyles, Kenneth W.; Shewchuk, Richard M.

doi:10.1016/j.jamda.2006.05.004

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Volume 7, Issue 7 , Pages 420-425, September 2006

Using a Modified Nominal Group Technique to Elicit Director of Nursing Input for an Osteoporosis Intervention

Deborah A. Levine, MD, MPH
- Deep South Center on Effectiveness Research, An HSR&D REAP, Birmingham VA Medical Center, Birmingham, AL and Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL
- Center for Education and Research on Therapeutics (CERTs) of Musculoskeletal Disorders, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL
- Address correspondence to Deborah A. Levine, MD, MPH, Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1530 3rd Avenue S, FOT 720, Birmingham, AL 35294.
Kenneth G. Saag, MD, MSc
- Center for Education and Research on Therapeutics (CERTs) of Musculoskeletal Disorders, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL
Linda L. Casebeer, PhD
- Center for Education and Research on Therapeutics (CERTs) of Musculoskeletal Disorders, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL
Cathleen Colon-Emeric, MD, MHSc
- Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC
Kenneth W. Lyles, MD
- Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC
- Durham VA Medical Center, Durham, NC
Richard M. Shewchuk, PhD
- Department of Health Administration, University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL.

published online 18 July 2006.

Background

Barriers prevent osteoporosis care in nursing homes. Successful interventions designed to circumvent these barriers benefit from target recipient input during development.

Objective

To elicit suggestions for an osteoporosis quality improvement intervention designed for use by nursing home health care professionals.

Design

Modified nominal group technique.

Setting

Convenience sample of Alabama nursing home directors.

Participants

Fifteen Alabama nursing home directors of nursing were recruited by mailing. Sixty percent of respondents participated (n = 9).

Measurements

In the first phase conducted via teleconference, an experienced moderator used a preformulated question and elicited 41 suggestions to improve osteoporosis care in nursing homes. Substantively similar suggestions were combined and idiosyncratic suggestions were discarded resulting in the retention of 20 suggestions. In the second phase conducted by mail, the same participants rated the 20 suggestions based on perceived practicality and helpfulness. Elements were grouped into tertiles based on the ranking of the mean ratings of the 2 attributes and then cross-tabulated.

Results

All director of nursing (n = 9) participants completed both phases. The most practical, most helpful suggestions were information on fall prevention program implementation, osteoporosis treatment protocols, and osteoporosis medication information.

Conclusions

A modified nominal group technique provided useful information from nursing home directors of nursing for an osteoporosis intervention. The technique proved efficient and facile to perform.

Keywords: Osteoporosis , nominal group technique , intervention , quality improvement