Development of an Indicator of Collaborative Practice and Clinical Judgment Competency for Oncology Nurses in Japan: A Modified Delphi Method

Abstract

Abstract Purpose This study aimed to develop Collaborative Practice and Clinical Judgment Competency (CPCJC) for oncology nurses and reach a consensus on the validity, importance, and feasibility of an indicator of CPCJC for certified nurse specialists in cancer nursing and graduate students. Methods The indicator of CPCJC for oncology nurses enables nurses to identify the challenges faced by patients in cancer wards and their families. This indicator contains 39 items in 13 categories, which correspond to the elements of Tanner’s Model of Clinical Judgment. A two-round modified Delphi study was completed by Japanese certified nurse specialists and graduate students in the Graduate School of Nursing. The first indicator was created by performing a content analysis using case studies and focus group interviews. Panels evaluated the validity, importance, and feasibility of 39 items in 13 categories in Round 1 (R1) and Round 2 (R2) using a 4-level Likert-type scale. Results The total number of participants was 46 in R1 and 35 in R2. The Scale-Content Validity Index/Ave values in R1 were 0.98, 0.99, and 0.94 for validity, importance, and feasibility, respectively. Conclusion This structured indicator will enable nurses with short clinical experience to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and provide patient-centered care. This indicator can be used as a consultation tool for nurses belonging to the palliative care team or advanced practice nurses in the oncology team.