Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38865305›Full record

ArticlePloS one2024

The use of virtual nominal groups in healthcare research: An extended scoping review.

Seung Ho Lee, Olle Ten Cate, Michael Gottlieb, Tanya Horsley, Beverley Shea, Karine Fournier, Christopher Tran, Teresa Chan, Timothy J Wood, Susan Humphrey-Murto

Abstract readScoping Review
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 15 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
15citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

15 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Seung Ho LeeFaculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada.
Olle Ten CateUtrecht Center for Research and Development of Health Professions Education, Division of Education, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0002-6379-8780
Michael GottliebDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago Illinois, United States of America.
Tanya HorsleyRoyal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, Research, Ottawa Ontario, Canada.ORCID 0000-0002-1256-9582
Beverley SheaSchool of Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Karine FournierHealth Sciences Library, University of Ottawa, Ottawa Ontario, Canada.
Christopher TranDepartment of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa Ontario, Canada.
Teresa ChanDepartment of Medicine, Division of Emergency Medicine, Division of Education and Innovation, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.ORCID 0000-0001-6104-462X
Timothy J WoodDepartment of Innovation in Medical Education, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Susan Humphrey-MurtoDepartment of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa Ontario, Canada.ORCID 0000-0002-5817-1940

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionThe Nominal Group Technique (NGT) is a consensus group method used to synthesize expert opinions. Given the global shift to virtual meetings, the extent to which researchers leveraged virtual platforms is unclear. This scoping review explores the use of the vNGT in healthcare research during the COVID-19 pandemic.

methodsFollowing the Arksey and O'Malley's framework, eight cross-disciplinary databases were searched (January 2020-July 2022). Research articles that reported all four vNGT stages (idea generation, round robin sharing, clarification, voting) were included. Media Synchronicity Theory informed analysis. Corresponding authors were surveyed for additional information.

resultsOf 2,589 citations, 32 references were included. Articles covered healthcare (27/32) and healthcare education (4/32). Platforms used most were Zoom, MS Teams and GoTo but was not reported in 44% of studies. Only 22% commented on the benefits/challenges of moving the NGT virtually. Among authors who responded to our survey (16/32), 80% felt that the vNGT was comparable or superior.

conclusionsThe vNGT provides several advantages such as the inclusion of geographically dispersed participants, scheduling flexibility and cost savings. It is a promising alternative to the traditional in-person meeting, but researchers should carefully describe modifications, potential limitations, and impact on results.

Indexed as

COVID-19Delivery of Health CareHealth Services ResearchHumansPandemicsSARS-CoV-2

Identifiers

PMID38865305
PMCPMC11168680

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.