Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

Background:

The National Health Service (England) strategic plans for research highlight the importance of aligning nurse and midwife-led research to public need. Whilst research priorities for healthcare are available for some specialisms of nursing and midwifery, there are no published data on the collective nursing, midwifery, and patient/carer research priorities aligned with operational care delivery priorities for a specific healthcare organisation.

Aim:

Identify nurse and midwife led-research priorities for one healthcare organisation in England.

Methods:

Using an online Delphi methodology, this project presents priorities for nurse and midwife-led research at one London hospital group in England.

Results:

The consensus process reduced an initial 275 ideas into a final 10 priorities, grouped under three categories: (a) Patient-reported priorities: Building healthy and therapeutic clinical environments; community services; challenging interactions between staff, patients, and families; clinical decision making/competence. (b) Workforce, education, and training: Staff well-being; career development and progression; workplace culture. (c) Clinical care delivery: Disparities and under-represented communities; patient and staff safety; mental healthcare and support.

Conclusion:

Findings will inform future nurse and midwife-led research locally and across the wider nursing and midwifery profession.

Keywords

Delphi midwifery nursing patients research surveys & questionnaires

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Almost

Wolff

Stewart-Pyne

, et al. (2016) Managing and mitigating conflict in healthcare teams: an integrative review. Journal of Advanced Nursing 72:1490–505. DOI: 10.1111/jan.12903.

Baird

Fenney

Jefferies

, et al. (2024) Making care closer to home a reality – Refocusing the system to primary and community care. The Kings Fund. Available at: http://assets.kingsfund.org.uk/f/256914/x/ab65341d7a/. [Accessed 20.05.25]

Bambra

Riordan

Ford

, et al. (2020) The COVID-19 pandemic and health inequalities. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health 74: 964–968. DOI: 10.1136jech-2020-214401.

Barrett

Heale

(2020) What are Delphi studies? Evidence-Based Nursing 23: 68–69. DOI: 10.1136/ebnurs-2020-103303.

Bautista

Hinkle

Alexander

, et al (2022) A Delphi study to establish research priorities for neuroscience nursing. Journal of Neuroscience Nursing 54: 74–79. DOI: 10.1097/JNN.0000000000000637.

Bochatay

Bajwa

Cullati

, et al. (2017) A multilevel analysis of professional conflicts in health care teams: insight for future training. Academic Medicine 92: S84–S92. DOI: 10.1097/ACM.000000000001912.

Bosco

Williams

Graham

, et al. (2018) Developing research priorities for nurses working in the gynaecology setting in Western Australia. Collegian 25: 73–80. DOI: 10.1016/j.colegn.2017.04.002.

Boucetta

El Alaoui

Seghir

, et al. (2023) Building the future of nursing and midwifery education: A critical examination of the competency-based approach. International Journal of Science Didactics Educational Engineering (IJSDEE) 1: 75–84.

Bradford

Pitt

Alexander

(2022) Research priorities of Australian cancer nurses: A national consensus survey. Collegian 29: 566–573. DOI: 10.1016/j.colegn.2022.01.005.

10.

Buchan

Charlesworth

Gershlick

, et al. (2019) A critical moment: NHS staffing trends, retention and attrition. The Health Foundation. Available at: http://www.health.org.uk/sites/default/files/upload/publications/2019/A%20Critical%20Moment_1.pdf

11.

Care Quality Commission (CQC) (2024) Safe environments – quality statement, Updated 22 February 2024. Available at: http://www.cqc.org.uk/guidance-regulation/providers/assessment/single-assessment-framework/safe/safe-environments (accessed 20 May 2025).

12.

Charles

Wickens

(2024) Community health services explained. The King’s Fund. Available at: http://www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-analysis/long-reads/community-health-services-explained (accessed 20 May 2025).

13.

Connor

Flenady

Massey

, et al. (2022) Clinical judgement in nursing – An evolutionary concept analysis. Journal of Clinical Nursing 32: 3328–3340.

14.

Connor

Dean

McNett

, et al. (2023) Evidence-based practice improves patient outcomes and healthcare system return on investment: Findings from a scoping review. Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing 20: 6–15. DOI: 10.1111/wvn.12621.

15.

Crocker

Ogden

Moore

(2023) Priorities for health and care research; An analysis and synthesis of information from James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnerships. NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre. Available at: https://www.phc.ox.ac.uk/research/resources/priorities-for-health-and-care-research

16.

Cullati

Bochatay

Maitre

, et al. (2019) When team conflicts threaten quality of care: A study of health care professionals’ experiences and perceptions. Mayo Clin Proc Innov Qual Outcomes 3(1): 43–51. DOI: 10.1016/j.mayocpiqo.2018.11.003.

17.

Deering

Brimblecombe

Matonhodze

, et al. (2023) Methodological procedures for priority setting mental health research: A systematic review summarising the methods, designs and frameworks involved with priority setting. Health Research Policy and Systems 21(64): 1–21. DOI: 10.1186/s1296/s12961-023-01003-8.

18.

Dowling

Efstathiou

Drury

, et al. (2023) Cancer nursing research priorities: A rapid review. European Journal of Oncology Nursing 63: 102272. DOI: 10.1016/j.ejon.2023.102272.

19.

Foster

(2024) The impact of civility in the workplace. British Journal of Nursing 33(18): 903. DOI: 10.12968/bjon.2024.0347.

20.

Frankenberger

Pasmann

Noll

, et al. (2019) Nursing research priorities in the pediatric emergency care applied research network (PECARN): Reaching consensus through the Delphi method. Journal of Emergency Nursing 45: 614–621. DOI: 10.1016/j.jen.2019.07.014.

21.

Garratt

. (2024) Mental health policy and services in England. House of Commons Library Research Briefing. Available at: http://researchbriefings.files.parliment.uk/documents/CBP-7547/CBP-7547.pdf.

22.

Gillespie

Jiggens

Russe

, et al. (2024) Defining research funding priorities: emergency nurses association foundation. Journal of Emergency Nursing 50: 285–295. Doi: 10.1016/j.jen.2023.12.003.

23.

Guell

Benito-Amat

Molas-Gallart

(2023) Priority setting in mental health research: A scoping review of participatory methods. Mental Health & Prevention 30: 200279. DOI: 10.1016/jmhp.2023.200279.

24.

Hasson

Keeney

McKenna

(2020) Research guidelines for the Delphi survey technique. Journal of Advanced Nursing 32: 1008–1015.

25.

Health Education England (2019) NHS Staff and Learners’ Mental Wellbeing Commission. Health Education England. Available at: http://www.hee.nhs.uk/sites/default/files/documents/NHS%20%28HEE%29%20-%20Mental%20Wellbeomg%20Commission%20Report.pdf

26.

Hesgrove

Zebrak

Yount

, et al. (2024) Associations between patient safety culture and workplace safety culture in hospital settings. BMC Health Services Research 24: 568. DOI: 10.1186/s12913-024-10984-3.

27.

Hickson

(2024) Healthcare disparities. Clinics in Integrated Care 22 (Supplement_1):100181. DOI: 10.1016/j.intcar.2023.100181.

28.

Inniss

(2022) The impact of hospital design on patients and staff. British Journal of Nursing 31(21): 1078. DOI: 10.12968/bjon.2022.31.21.1078.

29.

Iyendo

Uwajeh

Ikenna

(2016) The therapeutic impacts of environmental design interventions on wellness in clinical settings: A narrative review. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice 24: 174–188. DOI: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2016.06.008.

30.

Janes

Mills

Budworth

Johnson

, et al. (2021) The association between health care staff engagement and patient safety outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Patient Safety 17: 207–216. DOI: 10.1097/PTS.0000000000807.

31.

Latoo

Mistry

Wadoo

, et al. (2022) Why mental health service delivery needs to align alongside mainstream medical services. Asian Journal of Psychiatry 71: 103053. DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2022.103053.

32.

Lawrence

Hine

Watson

, et al. (2022) How to improve hospital employees’ health and well-being: A staff consultation. BMC Health Services Research 6: 1488. DOI: 10.1186/s12913-022-08621-y.

33.

Maben

Taylor

Jagosh

, et al. (2024) Causes and solutions to workplace psychological ill-health for nurses, midwives and paramedics: The Care Under Pressure 2 realist review. Health and Social Care Delivery Research 12. DOI: 10.3310/TWDU4109.

34.

Mannion

Davies

(2018) Understanding organisational culture for healthcare quality improvement. British Medical Journal 28. DOI: 10.1136/bmj.k4907.

35.

Morris

Robertson

(2024) Tackling health inequalities: Seven priorities for the NHS. The King’s Fund. Available at: http://www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-analysis/long-reads/tackling-health-inequalities-seven-priorities-nhs.

36.

Murugesu

Heijmans

Rademakers

, et al. (2022) Challenges and solutions in communication with patients with low health literacy: Perspectives of healthcare providers. PLoS One 17: e0267782. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pne.0267782.

37.

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence NICE. (2021) Babies, children and young people’s experience of healthcare, NICE guidance. Available at: www.nice.org..uk/guidance/ng204 (accessed 20 May 2025).

38.

NHS Employers. (2025) Supporting in-work progression. Available at: http://www.nhsemployers.org/publications/supporting-work-progression

39.

NHS England (2021a) Chief Nursing Officer for England’s strategic plan for research. Available at: https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/B0880-cno-for-englands-strategic-plan-fo-research.pdf

40.

NHS England (2021b) NHS health and wellbeing framework. Available at: http://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/nhs-health-and-wellbeing-framework/#heading-4

41.

NHS England (2023a) Chief Midwifery Officer for England’s strategic plan for research. Available at: https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/chief-midwifery-officer-for-englands-strategic-plan-for-research/

42.

NHS England (2023b) Improving patient safety culture – a practical guide. NHS England guidance. Available at: http://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/improving-patient-safety-culture-a-practical-guide/(accessed 20 May 2025).

43.

NHS England (2023c) Looking after your team’s health and wellbeing guide. Available at: http://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/looking-after-your-teams-health-and-wellbeing-guide/

44.

NHS England (2024) Patient Safety Incident Response Framework. Available at: http://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/patient-safety-incident-response-framework/

45.

NHS England (2025) Standardising community health services. NHS England guidance. Available at: http://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/standardising-community-health-services/ (accessed 20 May 2025).

46.

NHS England (2026) Academic Health Science Centres. Available at: https://www.england.nhs.uk/aac/what-we-do/innovation-for-healthcare-inequalities-programme/academic-health-science-centres/ (accessed 7 January 2026).

47.

NHS England and NHS Improvement (2019) The NHS Patient Safety Strategy -Safer culture, safer systems, safer patients. NHS England and NHS Improvement: NHS England and NHS Improvement. Available at: http://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/190708_PatientSafety_Strategy_forwebsite_v4.pdf (accessed 20 May 2025).

48.

Raleigh

(2023) The health of people from ethnic minority groups in England. The King’s Fund. Available at: http://www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-analysis/long-reads/health-people-ethnic-minority-groups-england.

49.

Roney

Mckenna

(2018) Determining the education and research priorities in pediatric trauma nursing: A Delphi study. Journal of Trauma Nursing 25: 290–297. DOI: 10.1097/JTN.0000000000000390.

50.

Rowe

Knox

(2022) The impact of the healthcare environment on patient experience in the emergency department: A systematic review to understand the implications for patient – centered design. HERD: Health Environments Research and Design Journal 16: 310–329. DOI: 10.1177/19375867221137097.

51.

Savic

Smith

(2023) How to conduct a Delphi consensus process. Anaesthesia 78: 247–250. DOI: 10.1111/anae.15808.

52.

Scheerman

Schoenmakers

AHC

Meskers

CGM

, et al. (2021) Physical, motivational and environmental factors influencing physical activity promotion during hospitalization: Older patients’ perspective. Geriatric Nursing 42: 599–604. DOI: 10.1016/j.gerinurse.2021.02.013.

53.

SixSigma (2024) Weighted scoring prioritization: A framework to make informed decisions. Available at: https://www.6sigma.us/six-sigma-in-focus/weighted-scoring-prioritization/

54.

Stewart

Bench

Malone

(2024) Interventions to support critical care nurse wellbeing: A scoping review. Intensive Critical Care Nursing 81: 103613. DOI: 10.1016/j.iccn.2023.103613.

55.

Stillman

Sullivan

Prasad

, et al. (2024) Understanding what leaders can do to facilitate healthcare workers’ feeling valued: improving our knowledge of the strongest burnout mitigator. BMJ Leader 8: 329–344. DOI: 10.1136/leader-2023-000921.

56.

Underwood

Dickinson

O’Keeffe

, et al. (2020) Strengthening quality assurance by implementing an evidence-based revision of a ward accreditation programme. Nursing Management ( Harrow) 27: 35–40. http://www.doi:10.7748/nm.2020.e1957.

57.

Van Keer

Deschepper

Francke

, et al. (2015) Conflicts between healthcare professionals and families of a multi-ethnic patient population during critical care: an ethnographic study. Critical Care 22: 441. DOI: 10.1186/s13054-015-1158-4.

58.

Vogel

Zwolinsky

Griffiths

, et al. (2019) A Delphi study to build consensus on the definition and use of big data in obesity research. International Journal of Obesity 43: 2573–2586. DOI: 10.1038/s41366-018-0313-9.

59.

Von Elm

Altman

Egger

, et al. (2007) The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) statement: guidelines for reporting observational studies. BMJ 335: 806–808.

60.

West

Wallbank

(2025) What does the NHS Staff Survey really tell us? The King’s Fund. Available at: http://www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-analysis/blogs/nhs-staff-survey-2024-tell-us.

61.

Williams

Fulbrook

Alberto

, et al. (2022) Critical care nursing policy, practice and research priorities: An international cross-sectional study. Journal of Nursing Scholarship 55: 1044–1057. DOI: 10.1111/jnu.12884.

62.

Zaitoun

Said

de Tantillo

(2023) Clinical nurse competence and its effect on patient safety culture: a systematic review. BMC Nursing 22: 173–183. DOI: 10.1186/s12912-023-01305-w.

Identifying the priorities for nurse and midwife-led research: a Delphi study involving staff and patients