Modified Delphi study to determine optimal data elements for inclusion in an emergency management database system

• Published in: African Journal of Emergency Medicine Vol. 2; no. 1; pp. 13 - 19
• Main Authors: Jabar, A., Wallis, LA, Ruter, A., Smith, WP
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 01.03.2012
• Subjects: Delphi; Emergency centre; Hospital beds; Management
• ISSN: 2211-419X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.afjem.2011.10.009

Objectives: Information and communication technologies (ICT) are introduced into organisations with the goals of managing resources, increasing efficiency and work productivity and reducing workload. The aim of this study was to identify hospital institutional capacity indicators to provide recommendations to an existing emergency management database system operating in Cape Town, the Western Cape Province of South Africa. Using these indicators, this study seeks to augment and update the existing emergency database system. Methods: A modified Expert Delphi study consisting of two rounds was conducted by email. A panel of 16 experts drawn from the fields of emergency medicine, critical care, trauma surgery and disaster medicine were consulted. Participants were initially asked to propose hospital institutional capacity indicators that warranted inclusion in the emergency management database system currently operating in Cape Town, South Africa. In the second round these proposals were collated and scored using a 7 point Likert scale. Results: Round 1 comprised 237 statements. Consensus was defined a priori to be >80%. A total of 59 of 237 statements had reached consensus upon completion of the Delphi study. This represented 24.5% of the total number of statements. Of these 19 reached consensus at >90% and 40 reached consensus at >80%. Subheadings for proposed indicators included staffing speciality categories, hospital equipment and services and special hazard/circumstance services Examples of accepted indicators include theatre availability, ICU surge and ventilator capacity and the availability of Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear (CBRN) Decontamination services. Conclusion: The use of a modified Expert Delphi study achieved consensus in aspects of hospital institutional capacity that can be translated into practical recommendations for implementation by the local emergency management database system. Additionally, areas of non-consensus have been identified where further work is required. This purpose of this study is to contribute to and aid in the development of this new system.