Using nominal group technique to inform the development of a self-management app for patients with relapsed myeloma

TL;DR

This paper shows how the nominal group technique helped identify key symptoms for a self-management app for relapsed myeloma patients.

Contribution

The study demonstrates the use of NGT to prioritize patient symptoms for app development in relapsed myeloma care.

Findings

NGT efficiently gathered healthcare professionals' input on key symptoms for app development.

Top symptoms prioritized were Pain, Fatigue, Peripheral Neuropathy, Infection Risk, and Steroid Induced Side Effects.

Eighteen healthcare professionals with varied experience participated in the NGT session.

Abstract

Background: The nominal group technique (NGT) allows stakeholders to directly generate items for needs assessment. The objective was to demonstrate the use of NGT to inform the development of a healthcare app in patients with relapsed myeloma. Healthcare professionals with experience in the care of patients with relapsed/refractory myeloma were invited to participate.

Methods: One NGT group was conducted. In the group, health care professionals working in haematology were asked to vote anonymously in order of highest priority, on symptoms previously highlighted by relapsed/refractory myeloma patients in four focus groups.

Results: A total of 18 healthcare professionals working in the area of haematology participated in the NGT discussion; consultants (n=6), haematology registrars (n=2), specialist nurses [Advanced Nurse Practitioner/Clinical Nurse Specialist] (haematology) (n=3), staff nurse (n=1), and “other” health care professionals (n=6). Participants ranged in experience of working with myeloma patients from 2 years to over 27 years. The symptoms voted in highest priority were: Pain, Fatigue, Peripheral Neuropathy, Infection Risk and Steroid Induced Side Effects.

Conclusions: The NGT was an efficient method for obtaining information to inform a healthcare app.