Development of an administrative neonatal database instrument formonitoring the status of neonatal intensive care practice inSouth Africa : a consensus research approach

[摘要] Various local and international neonatal nursing organisations have identified thedire need for a comprehensive administrative database reflecting the true status ofneonatal intensive care practice in South Africa. This would enable neonatalinterest groups to give input into policy-making; implement, monitor, and evaluatepolicies; identify particular needs to be addressed by quality improvementinitiatives or projects; and to promote international benchmarking. The overall aimof this study was to determine the content of an administrative neonatal databaseinstrument to enhance delivery of the highest quality nursing care to ill and highriskneonates nationwide. The specific research objectives of this study were todescribe and refine the content of such an instrument. This was achieved by usingtwo consensus research methods, the Nominal Group Technique (NGT) and theDelphi method. For the NGT session representatives of organisations such asNNASA, SANITSA, SANC and The National Department of Health as well astrained neonatal nurses from both public and private sector hospitals were invited.Five participants attended the NGT session. An electronic format of the Delphimethod, the e-Delphi, was used and included the participants from the NGT aswell as additional unit managers, paediatricians and neonatologists. By the end ofthe third round of the e-Delphi method, six participants had fully participated.Through both phases data collection and analysis took place simultaneously.Based on the analysis, a draft instrument for data collection was compiled. Thisinstrument will in the near future be piloted on a larger scale.

[发布机构] University of Pretoria