Volume 7, Issue 5 p. 416-420

Original Research

Nominal group technique: A brainstorming tool for identifying areas to improve pain management in hospitalized patients^†

Adolfo Peña MD,

Adolfo Peña MD

Saint Joseph Hospital, Section of Hospital Medicine, London, Kentucky

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Carlos A. Estrada MD, MS,

Corresponding Author

Carlos A. Estrada MD, MS

[email protected]

Birmingham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Veterans Affair National Quality Scholars Program, Birmingham, Alabama

University of Alabama at Birmingham, Division of General Internal Medicine and University Hospital, Birmingham, Alabama

Telephone: 205-934-3007; Fax: 205-975-7797

Birmingham Veterans Affair Medical Center and Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, FOT 732, 510 20th St S, Birmingham, AL 35294===Search for more papers by this author

Debbie Soniat RN,

Debbie Soniat RN

University of Alabama at Birmingham, Division of General Internal Medicine and University Hospital, Birmingham, Alabama

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Benjamin Taylor MD, MPH,

Benjamin Taylor MD, MPH

University of Alabama at Birmingham, Division of General Internal Medicine and University Hospital, Birmingham, Alabama

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Michael Burton MD, MSPH,

Michael Burton MD, MSPH

University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Division of General Internal Medicine, Dallas, Texas

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Adolfo Peña MD,

Adolfo Peña MD

Saint Joseph Hospital, Section of Hospital Medicine, London, Kentucky

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Carlos A. Estrada MD, MS,

Corresponding Author

Carlos A. Estrada MD, MS

[email protected]

Birmingham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Veterans Affair National Quality Scholars Program, Birmingham, Alabama

University of Alabama at Birmingham, Division of General Internal Medicine and University Hospital, Birmingham, Alabama

Telephone: 205-934-3007; Fax: 205-975-7797

Debbie Soniat RN,

Debbie Soniat RN

University of Alabama at Birmingham, Division of General Internal Medicine and University Hospital, Birmingham, Alabama

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Benjamin Taylor MD, MPH,

Benjamin Taylor MD, MPH

University of Alabama at Birmingham, Division of General Internal Medicine and University Hospital, Birmingham, Alabama

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Michael Burton MD, MSPH,

Michael Burton MD, MSPH

University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Division of General Internal Medicine, Dallas, Texas

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First published: 21 December 2011

https://doi.org/10.1002/jhm.1900

Citations: 29

^†

Disclosure: Drs. Pena, Burton, and Estrada were supported by the Veterans Affairs National Quality Scholars Program. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors alone and do not reflect the views of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

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Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Pain management in hospitalized patients remains a priority area for improvement; effective strategies for consensus development are needed to prioritize interventions.

OBJECTIVE:

To identify challenges, barriers, and perspectives of healthcare providers in managing pain among hospitalized patients.

DESIGN:

Qualitative and quantitative group consensus using a brainstorming technique for quality improvement—the nominal group technique (NGT).

SETTING:

One medical, 1 medical-surgical, and 1 surgical hospital unit at a large academic medical center.

PARTICIPANTS:

Nurses, resident physicians, patient care technicians, and unit clerks.

MEASUREMENTS:

Responses and ranking to the NGT question: “What causes uncontrolled pain in your unit?”

RESULTS:

Twenty-seven health workers generated a total of 94 ideas. The ideas perceived contributing to a suboptimal pain control were grouped as system factors (timeliness, n = 18 ideas; communication, n = 11; pain assessment, n = 8), human factors (knowledge and experience, n = 16; provider bias, n = 8; patient factors, n = 19), and interface of system and human factors (standardization, n = 14). Knowledge, timeliness, provider bias, and patient factors were the top ranked themes.

CONCLUSIONS:

Knowledge and timeliness are considered main priorities to improve pain control. NGT is an efficient tool for identifying general and context-specific priority areas for quality improvement; teams of healthcare providers should consider using NGT to address their own challenges and barriers. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2012; © 2011 Society of Hospital Medicine

Supporting Information

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Citing Literature

Volume7, Issue5

May/June 2012

Pages 416-420

Nominal group technique: A brainstorming tool for identifying areas to improve pain management in hospitalized patients^†

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

OBJECTIVE:

DESIGN:

SETTING:

PARTICIPANTS:

MEASUREMENTS:

RESULTS:

CONCLUSIONS:

Supporting Information

References

Citing Literature

References

Information

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Nominal group technique: A brainstorming tool for identifying areas to improve pain management in hospitalized patients†

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

OBJECTIVE:

DESIGN:

SETTING:

PARTICIPANTS:

MEASUREMENTS:

RESULTS:

CONCLUSIONS:

Supporting Information

References

Citing Literature

References

Related

Information

Nominal group technique: A brainstorming tool for identifying areas to improve pain management in hospitalized patients^†