Determining the top research priorities in UK prehospital critical care: a modified Delphi study. Issue 4 (17th January 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ramage, Lisa; McLachlan, Sarah; Williams, Kristian
• Other Names: author non-byline.; Bell Steve author non-byline.; Bird Flora author non-byline.; Carley Simon author non-byline.; Chan Louisa author non-byline.; Clutton David author non-byline.; Cowan Stephanie author non-byline.; Creed Matthew author non-byline.; Dungay David author non-byline.; Folley Sarah author non-byline.; Leech Caroline author non-byline.; Hughes Amy author non-byline.; Lang Nigel author non-byline.; Major Rob author non-byline.; MacKenzie Roderick author non-byline.; Perkins Zane author non-byline.; Phillipson Laurie author non-byline.; Plumb James author non-byline.; Rawlinson David author non-byline.; Taylor Matthew author non-byline.; Thomas Glyn author non-byline.; Tucker Harriet author non-byline.; Raitt James author non-byline.; Rallan Rishi author non-byline.; Smith Andy author non-byline.; Walsh Simon author non-byline.
• Is Part Of: Emergency medicine journal. Volume 40:Issue 4(2023)
• Page Start: 271
• Page End: 276
• Publication Date: 2023-01-17
• Subjects: pre-hospital care -- advanced practitioner -- doctors in PHC; Emergency medicine -- Periodicals; 616.02505
• DOI: 10.1136/emermed-2022-212622
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1472-0205

Abstract

Abstract : Background: Prehospital critical care is a rapidly evolving field. There is a paucity of evidence relating to its practice, with limited progress in answering those research questions identified over a decade ago. It is vital that evidence gaps are identified and addressed. This study aimed to define the current research priorities in UK prehospital critical care. Methods: This modified national Delphi study was coordinated by the Pre-HOspital Trainee Operated research Network and conducted in four rounds between October 2021 and April 2022. Rounds 1 and 2 were conducted online with clinicians involved in prehospital critical care delivery and non-clinical prehospital researchers. Rounds 3 and 4 were completed online by a subject matter expert (SME) panel. Results: In round 1, 78 participants submitted 394 research questions relating to prehospital critical care delivery in the UK. These were refined and categorised into 192 questions, which were scored for importance in round 2. Fifty questions were discussed and scored by the SME panel in round 3. Round 4 created a ranked top 20 list. The top research priority was 'Which cardiac arrest patients should critical care teams be dispatched to; how do we identify these patients during the emergency call?'. Other priorities included dispatch optimisation, out-of-hospital medical cardiac arrest management, optimising resuscitation in haemorrhagic shock, improving traumatic brain injury outcomes and optimising management of traumatic cardiac arrest. Conclusions: This modified Delphi study identified 20 research priorities where efforts should be concentrated to develop collaborative prehospital critical care research within the UK over the next 5 years.