Validation of criteria for nosocomial use of amikacin in Brazil with the Delphi technique

The Delphi technique has been used since the 1950s to collect the opinions of experts; to gauge their indications, and in some instances, to develop a consensus. This systematic collection and aggregation of informed judgments from a group of experts on specific questions or issues is a highly effic...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: L. Noblat, M.G.G. Oliveira, R. Santos-Jesus, A.C.B. Noblat, R. Badaró
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier
Series:Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1413-86702006000300004&lng=en&tlng=en
_version_ 1828424459736842240
author L. Noblat
M.G.G. Oliveira
R. Santos-Jesus
A.C.B. Noblat
R. Badaró
author_facet L. Noblat
M.G.G. Oliveira
R. Santos-Jesus
A.C.B. Noblat
R. Badaró
author_sort L. Noblat
collection DOAJ
description The Delphi technique has been used since the 1950s to collect the opinions of experts; to gauge their indications, and in some instances, to develop a consensus. This systematic collection and aggregation of informed judgments from a group of experts on specific questions or issues is a highly efficient and cost-effective means to establish guidelines and policies, when compared to other strategies, such as committee meetings or personal interviews. OBJECTIVE: Examine the content validation process of the proposed criteria of the American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP) for amikacin use in hospital settings. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The Delphi technique was applied using the proposed ASHP criteria questionnaire containing 102 specific questions related to the nosocomial use of amikacin by individual patients. The questionnaire contained six groups of questions: 1) Identification and basic demographic data, 2) Relevant data for the use of amikacin, 3) Justification of its usage, 4) Critical parameters of amikacin use, 5) Complications, 6) Measurement of results. Eight hospital specialist medical doctors were selected, including five in the area of infectious diseases, one surgeon, one nephrologist and one in critical care medicine. The questionnaire was e-mailed to the doctors and they were asked for their opinion about the appropriateness of the questions. They were to say whether the general concept seemed totally or partially adequate to the proposed process, what grade (0 to 10) they would give to each section, and if there were any perceived deficiencies, they could add, omit or modify individual questions. A second questionnaire containing the questions for which there had been no consensus based on the answers to the previous one was re-sent to the participants for consolidation. RESULTS: Feedback revealed an agreement of 75% concerning the utility and appropriateness of sections 1 and 2. The section about the justification of amikacin usage was agreed on by 50%. There was a total agreement of 62% for the critical parameters of amikacin use, and a partial agreement of 37%. The complication of usage of the questionnaire was agreed upon by 50% of the participants, and positive measurement of the results was totally agreed on by 62%, and partially by 37%. The overall score for the questionnaire was 8.77 ± 0.25. CONCLUSION: The usage criteria for amikacin recommended by ASHP were validated by the Delphi technique for utilization in Brazilian hospital settings. The Delphi technique applied to validate a questionnaire instrument for monitoring the correct use of a specific strategic antibiotic indicated for the treatment and prophylaxis of serious antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria, proved to be a reliable and simple tool for designing guidelines and a consensus document for hospital use of antibiotics.
first_indexed 2024-12-10T16:18:28Z
format Article
id doaj.art-bc04234128314ede94c5f9dd4645023e
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1678-4391
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-10T16:18:28Z
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases
spelling doaj.art-bc04234128314ede94c5f9dd4645023e2022-12-22T01:41:55ZengElsevierBrazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases1678-439110317317810.1590/S1413-86702006000300004S1413-86702006000300004Validation of criteria for nosocomial use of amikacin in Brazil with the Delphi techniqueL. Noblat0M.G.G. Oliveira1R. Santos-Jesus2A.C.B. Noblat3R. Badaró4Universidade Federal da BahiaUniversidade Federal da BahiaUniversidade Federal da BahiaUniversidade Federal da BahiaUniversidade Federal da BahiaThe Delphi technique has been used since the 1950s to collect the opinions of experts; to gauge their indications, and in some instances, to develop a consensus. This systematic collection and aggregation of informed judgments from a group of experts on specific questions or issues is a highly efficient and cost-effective means to establish guidelines and policies, when compared to other strategies, such as committee meetings or personal interviews. OBJECTIVE: Examine the content validation process of the proposed criteria of the American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP) for amikacin use in hospital settings. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The Delphi technique was applied using the proposed ASHP criteria questionnaire containing 102 specific questions related to the nosocomial use of amikacin by individual patients. The questionnaire contained six groups of questions: 1) Identification and basic demographic data, 2) Relevant data for the use of amikacin, 3) Justification of its usage, 4) Critical parameters of amikacin use, 5) Complications, 6) Measurement of results. Eight hospital specialist medical doctors were selected, including five in the area of infectious diseases, one surgeon, one nephrologist and one in critical care medicine. The questionnaire was e-mailed to the doctors and they were asked for their opinion about the appropriateness of the questions. They were to say whether the general concept seemed totally or partially adequate to the proposed process, what grade (0 to 10) they would give to each section, and if there were any perceived deficiencies, they could add, omit or modify individual questions. A second questionnaire containing the questions for which there had been no consensus based on the answers to the previous one was re-sent to the participants for consolidation. RESULTS: Feedback revealed an agreement of 75% concerning the utility and appropriateness of sections 1 and 2. The section about the justification of amikacin usage was agreed on by 50%. There was a total agreement of 62% for the critical parameters of amikacin use, and a partial agreement of 37%. The complication of usage of the questionnaire was agreed upon by 50% of the participants, and positive measurement of the results was totally agreed on by 62%, and partially by 37%. The overall score for the questionnaire was 8.77 ± 0.25. CONCLUSION: The usage criteria for amikacin recommended by ASHP were validated by the Delphi technique for utilization in Brazilian hospital settings. The Delphi technique applied to validate a questionnaire instrument for monitoring the correct use of a specific strategic antibiotic indicated for the treatment and prophylaxis of serious antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria, proved to be a reliable and simple tool for designing guidelines and a consensus document for hospital use of antibiotics.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1413-86702006000300004&lng=en&tlng=enDelphi techniquecontent validationdrug use utilizationamikacinconsensus technique
spellingShingle L. Noblat
M.G.G. Oliveira
R. Santos-Jesus
A.C.B. Noblat
R. Badaró
Validation of criteria for nosocomial use of amikacin in Brazil with the Delphi technique
Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases
Delphi technique
content validation
drug use utilization
amikacin
consensus technique
title Validation of criteria for nosocomial use of amikacin in Brazil with the Delphi technique
title_full Validation of criteria for nosocomial use of amikacin in Brazil with the Delphi technique
title_fullStr Validation of criteria for nosocomial use of amikacin in Brazil with the Delphi technique
title_full_unstemmed Validation of criteria for nosocomial use of amikacin in Brazil with the Delphi technique
title_short Validation of criteria for nosocomial use of amikacin in Brazil with the Delphi technique
title_sort validation of criteria for nosocomial use of amikacin in brazil with the delphi technique
topic Delphi technique
content validation
drug use utilization
amikacin
consensus technique
url http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1413-86702006000300004&lng=en&tlng=en
work_keys_str_mv AT lnoblat validationofcriteriafornosocomialuseofamikacininbrazilwiththedelphitechnique
AT mggoliveira validationofcriteriafornosocomialuseofamikacininbrazilwiththedelphitechnique
AT rsantosjesus validationofcriteriafornosocomialuseofamikacininbrazilwiththedelphitechnique
AT acbnoblat validationofcriteriafornosocomialuseofamikacininbrazilwiththedelphitechnique
AT rbadaro validationofcriteriafornosocomialuseofamikacininbrazilwiththedelphitechnique