Abstract：
BACKGROUND: Nominal group technique (NGT) is widely used in healthcare research to facilitate decision-making and consensus-building. Traditional NGT requires face-to-face interaction and its limitations include potential biases, logistical challenges and high costs. The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a shift to virtual methods, which led to the development of virtual nominal group technique (vNGT). Aim To reflect on the use of vNGT, particularly in the context of Ghader et al (2023 ), to understand its effectiveness in overcoming the limitations of traditional NGT and on its applicability in pandemic-affected scenarios.
METHODS: This paper reviews and discusses literature on the use and effectiveness of NGT compared to other consensus-building methods and examines the emergence of vNGT in overcoming the limitations of traditional NGT. The authors also reflect on their use of vNGT in a study to identify cardiovascular research priorities in the UAE and provide details of its implementation.
CONCLUSIONS: vNGT bridges the gap between the localised nature of traditional NGT and the global reach of the Delphi technique. It allows for the inclusion of diverse participants, saves costs and offers time-efficiency. The study demonstrated vNGT\'s adaptability, with participants engaging in idea generation, discussion and prioritisation using online tools. However, challenges persist with vNGT, including reduced accessibility for certain demographics, timing issues across time zones and technical difficulties.
CONCLUSIONS: vNGT successfully integrates the interactive, consensus-building aspects of NGT with the broad reach of Delphi. It can be valuable in research and decision-making, especially in an era of increased remote collaboration.
CONCLUSIONS: vNGT can significantly impact healthcare research and policy formulation by enabling more inclusive, cost-effective and timely consensus-building processes. However, considerations for accessibility and technical support are crucial for its wider adoption and effectiveness.
METHODS: This paper reviews and discusses literature on the use and effectiveness of NGT compared to other consensus-building methods and examines the emergence of vNGT in overcoming the limitations of traditional NGT. The authors also reflect on their use of vNGT in a study to identify cardiovascular research priorities in the UAE and provide details of its implementation.
CONCLUSIONS: vNGT bridges the gap between the localised nature of traditional NGT and the global reach of the Delphi technique. It allows for the inclusion of diverse participants, saves costs and offers time-efficiency. The study demonstrated vNGT\'s adaptability, with participants engaging in idea generation, discussion and prioritisation using online tools. However, challenges persist with vNGT, including reduced accessibility for certain demographics, timing issues across time zones and technical difficulties.
CONCLUSIONS: vNGT successfully integrates the interactive, consensus-building aspects of NGT with the broad reach of Delphi. It can be valuable in research and decision-making, especially in an era of increased remote collaboration.
CONCLUSIONS: vNGT can significantly impact healthcare research and policy formulation by enabling more inclusive, cost-effective and timely consensus-building processes. However, considerations for accessibility and technical support are crucial for its wider adoption and effectiveness.
摘要：
背景：名义组技术（NGT）广泛用于医疗保健研究，以促进决策和共识建立。传统的NGT需要面对面的互动，其局限性包括潜在的偏见，物流挑战和高成本。COVID-19大流行需要转向虚拟方法，这导致了虚拟名义组技术(vNGT)的发展。目的反思vNGT的使用,特别是在Ghader等人(2023)的背景下，了解其克服传统NGT局限性的有效性及其在大流行影响情景中的适用性。
方法：本文回顾并讨论了有关NGT与其他共识建立方法相比的使用和有效性的文献，并研究了vNGT在克服传统NGT局限性方面的出现。作者还反思了他们在一项研究中使用vNGT，以确定阿联酋的心血管研究重点，并提供其实施细节。
结论：vNGT弥合了传统NGT的局部性质与Delphi技术的全球范围之间的差距。它允许包括不同的参与者，节省成本，并提供时间效率。这项研究证明了vNGT的适应性，参与者参与创意产生，使用在线工具进行讨论和优先排序。然而,vNGT仍然存在挑战，包括某些人口统计数据的可访问性降低，跨时区的时间问题和技术困难。
结论：vNGT成功集成了交互式，NGT的共识方面与Delphi的广泛影响。它在研究和决策中可能很有价值，尤其是在远程协作增加的时代。
结论：vNGT可以通过实现更具包容性的医疗保健研究和政策制定显着影响，具有成本效益和及时的建立共识进程。然而,对可访问性和技术支持的考虑对于其更广泛的采用和有效性至关重要。
方法：本文回顾并讨论了有关NGT与其他共识建立方法相比的使用和有效性的文献，并研究了vNGT在克服传统NGT局限性方面的出现。作者还反思了他们在一项研究中使用vNGT，以确定阿联酋的心血管研究重点，并提供其实施细节。
结论：vNGT弥合了传统NGT的局部性质与Delphi技术的全球范围之间的差距。它允许包括不同的参与者，节省成本，并提供时间效率。这项研究证明了vNGT的适应性，参与者参与创意产生，使用在线工具进行讨论和优先排序。然而,vNGT仍然存在挑战，包括某些人口统计数据的可访问性降低，跨时区的时间问题和技术困难。
结论：vNGT成功集成了交互式，NGT的共识方面与Delphi的广泛影响。它在研究和决策中可能很有价值，尤其是在远程协作增加的时代。
结论：vNGT可以通过实现更具包容性的医疗保健研究和政策制定显着影响，具有成本效益和及时的建立共识进程。然而,对可访问性和技术支持的考虑对于其更广泛的采用和有效性至关重要。
