The updated national research agenda 2021–2026 for prehospital emergency medical services in the Netherlands: a Delphi study

Abstract

Background In 2015, a national research agenda was established for Dutch prehospital EMS to underpin the evidence base of care delivery and inform policymakers and funders. The continuously increasing demand for ambulance care and the reorientation towards the role of EMS in recent years may have changed research priorities. Therefore, this study aimed to update the Dutch national EMS research agenda. Methods A three-round online Delphi survey was used to explore and discuss different viewpoints and to reach consensus on research priorities (i.e., themes and special interest groups, e.g. patient types who require specific research attention). A multidisciplinary expert panel (n = 62) was recruited in the field of prehospital EMS and delegates of relevant professional organizations and stakeholders participated. In round one, fifty-nine research themes and six special interest groups (derived from several resources) were rated on importance on a 5-point scale by the panel members. In round two, the panel selected their priority themes and special interest groups (yes/no), and those with a positive difference score were further assessed in round three. In this final round, appropriateness of the remaining themes and agreement within the panel was taken into account, following the RAND/UCLA appropriateness method, which resulted in the final list of research priorities. Results The survey response per round varied between 94 and 100 percent. In round one, a reduction from 59 to 25 themes and the selection of three special interest groups was realized. Round two resulted in the prioritization of six themes and one special interest group ('Vulnerable elderly'). Round three showed an adequate level of agreement regarding all six themes: 'Registration and (digital) exchange of patient data in the chain of emergency care'; 'Mobile care consultation/Non conveyance'; 'Care coordination'; 'Cooperation with professional partners within the care domain'; 'Care differentiation' and 'Triage and urgency classification'. Conclusions The updated Dutch national EMS research agenda builds further on the previous version and introduces new EMS research priorities that correspond with the future challenges prehospital EMS care is faced with. This agenda will guide researchers, policymakers and funding bodies in prioritizing future research projects.

Top Research Priorities in Prehospital Care in Spain

“…20,21 In the latest European study in this regard, they identify a priority that they consider to be of special interest: care for vulnerable elderly people. 12 This aspect, which is increasingly common in the daily work of emergency systems, 22,23 has not been identified in this study.…”

“…A more recent Netherlands study updated these research priorities, identifying the following as priorities: 12 not-conveyed patients, patient registration, and clinical data in the care chain; care coordination, interprofessional collaboration, care stratification, and triage; and classification of emergencies. In addition, they identify the vulnerable elderly population as a priority of special interest.…”

Determining the top research priorities in UK prehospital critical care: a modified Delphi study

“…national research agenda concerning wider prehospital emergency medical services 9 was updated in 2021 10 and again highlighted several priority areas necessitating further research. Despite these reports, there has been limited demonstrable progress.…”

“…Previous reports have described prehospital research priorities, including a 2011 European Consensus report which outlined five areas for future development in prehospital physician-provided critical care delivery,3 appropriate staffing and training and effect on outcomes, advanced airway management, time windows for key prehospital interventions, role of prehospital ultrasound and defining dispatch criteria. The Netherlands national research agenda concerning wider prehospital emergency medical services9 was updated in 202110 and again highlighted several priority areas necessitating further research. Despite these reports, there has been limited demonstrable progress 11–13.…”

Research agenda and priorities for Australian and New Zealand paramedicine: A Delphi consensus study

“…[9][10][11][12][13][14] In the context of paramedicine, similar national or regional research agendas have been developed in various countries/regions over the past two decades, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, Ireland, Canada, and the Netherlands. [15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23] However, it's essential to note that while these agendas hold conceptual importance, their actual outcomes and impact remain unclear, with only one of the aforementioned agendas undergoing longitudinal follow-up to assess progress. 23 In an Australian context, the first attempt at determining paramedicine research priorities was made by Tippett et al 24 using a modified face-to-face conference consensus approach.…”