Adapting the Nominal Group Technique to a virtual version: an experience report

To report on the adaptations made to the original Nominal Group Technique (NGT), allowing it to be applied to the virtual format, preserving all its key elements.

Method:

An experience report on the adaptations and adjustments made to the original NGT to the virtual format using Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), using digital tools that are available free of charge or are low cost and easy to use.

Results:

The NGT was carried out entirely virtually and underwent adaptations in each of its four stages through the incorporation of specific digital resources. It was possible to present the most voted ideas and obtain final approval from the participants. The participants had no difficulty in using the virtual resources provided and, based on the reaction evaluation, they were satisfied with the tools provided.

Conclusion:

The adapted NGT proved to be an effective method when used in a virtual setting, capable of producing a significant number of ideas and developing consensus. The adapted tool can be used by other researchers in countries with similar resources or dimensions to Brazil.

DESCRIPTORS
Nursing; Nursing Research; Digital technology; Methods; COVID-19

Stages	Description
Generation of ideas	The facilitator guides the participants to write down their ideas in brief phases or statements according to the guiding question using a blank sheet of paper, cards or post-it notes.
Presentation of ideas	Each participant presents, without opening discussion, one of the ideas on their list, in rounds of presentations. The ideas are recorded on flip charts or post-it notes by the supporter for everyone to see.
Clarification of ideas	The participants express the relative importance of each idea. If there are duplicates, the ideas can be combined with the agreement of the group.
Voting	Participants vote privately to prioritize the ideas, using criteria created by the facilitator. The facilitator will add the scores assigned. The results are then discussed in the group and recorded by the supporter, with the ranking order of the issues and concerns identified.

Universidade de São Paulo, Escola de Enfermagem Av. Dr. Enéas de Carvalho Aguiar, 419 , 05403-000 São Paulo - SP/ Brasil, Tel./Fax: (55 11) 3061-7553, - São Paulo - SP - Brazil
E-mail: reeusp@usp.br

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[1] Corresponding author: Viviane Cristina de Lima Gusmão, Av. Dr. Enéas Carvalho de Aguiar, 419, Cerqueira César, 05403-000 – São Paulo, SP, Brazil, vcgusmao@gmail.com