Current and Emerging Ethical Issues in Counseling: A Delphi Study of Expert Opinions

The prevalence of dementia across Europe and the world is increasing. People die with and from dementia and, as such, advanced dementia can be considered a terminal condition. This, alongside the realisation that care for people with dementia is deficient, has led to increasing interest in palliative care in dementia. Palliative care can be a rather broad term with different meanings, but nonetheless guidelines and expert opinions have been developed with the aim of improving overall care for people with dementia. Although at times the evidence on which these guidelines are based is somewhat sparse, they provide guidance in specific areas relevant to dementia. The main areas covered are pain, infection and fevers, artificial nutrition and hydration, resuscitation and psychological, social and spiritual needs. We shall consider the evidence on which guidance is based and then highlight a recent ethical framework developed to help thinking around the issues that arise in dementia care.

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Towards circular agriculture – exploring insect waste streams as a crop and soil health promoter

Journal of Insects as Food and Feed ◽

10.3920/jiff2020.0095 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-12

Author(s):

K.L. Torgerson ◽

J.V. Meijering ◽

J. Sok ◽

M. Dicke ◽

A.G.J.M. Oude Lansink

Keyword(s):

Delphi Study ◽

Plant Protection ◽

Soil Health ◽

Expert Elicitation ◽

Development Phase ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Waste Streams ◽

Expert Opinions ◽

Information Gap ◽

Legal Context

Insects have tremendous potential for utilising the waste generated from other agricultural sectors to produce high value protein. The by-product of insect production, insect waste streams, can be recycled and repurposed for promoting the health of crops and soil as the chitin, present in the moulted skins, acts as a substrate for beneficial microbes that aid in plant protection. However, because insect waste streams are currently in the research and development phase, little information regarding its potential as a crop and soil health promoter is available. To address this information gap, this research explores experts’ knowledge of the characteristics and application of insect waste streams as a crop and soil health promoter. To conduct this research, a two-step expert elicitation approach was used consisting of semi-structured interviews followed by a Delphi study. Interviews were conducted with six experts. Topics arising from the interviews that produced conflicting expert opinions were tested in the Delphi study. Fourteen experts participated in the Delphi study in an attempt to reach an agreement on these topics. The results of this research indicate that insect waste streams could be produced as a granulate-type compost, seed coating, or impregnated into a biodegradable seedling cup. To use insect waste streams, farmers should apply it next to the roots of each plant during the time of planting. Experts were unable to reach an agreement on some topics (e.g. dosage recommendations and expected yield changes). A brief discussion of insect waste streams’ legal context is also provided. The results of this research contribute the first description of insect waste streams as a crop and soil health promoter. Such results serve as a tool to potentially aid in its uptake thus progressing towards circular agriculture.

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Social Psychology and Pandemics: Exploring Consensus about Research Priorities and Strategies using the Delphi Method

10.31234/osf.io/yhw74 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Sammyh Khan ◽

Daniella Hult Khazaie

Keyword(s):

Social Psychology ◽

Delphi Method ◽

Delphi Study ◽

Research Priorities ◽

Delphi Process ◽

Expert Opinions ◽

The Social ◽

Behavioural Sciences

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to calls for contributions from the social and behavioural sciences in responding to the social and behavioural dimensions of the pandemic. The current Delphi study explored expert opinions and consensus about the contributions that can be made by social psychology and social psychologists, and research priorities and strategies to this end. A two-round Delphi process was employed involving a panel of 52 professors of social psychology from 25 countries. Responses to open-ended questions presented to the panel in Round 1 were condensed and reformulated into 100 closed-ended statements that the panel rated their agreement with in Round 2. Consensus was reached for 55 topics to which social psychology can contribute, 26 topics that should be prioritised, and 19 strategies that should be implemented. The findings contribute to further focusing research efforts in psychology in its response to the social and behavioural dimensions of the COVID-19 and future pandemics.

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Expert consensus statement to guide research into evidence-based classiﬁcation of athletes for Para-Taekwondo -- A Delphi study

10.31083/jomh.2021.019 ◽

2021 ◽

Keyword(s):

Cerebral Palsy ◽

Delphi Study ◽

Research Priorities ◽

Round Table ◽

Future Research ◽

Online Questionnaire ◽

Expert Opinions ◽

Select Group ◽

Research Initiatives

Background and Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate various issues surrounding participation in Para-Taekwondo Kyorugi (sparring), with the aim of focusing on future research initiatives to improve the classiﬁcation system and safety for participation in Para-Taekwondo. Material and Methods: For this, a series of online questionnaires and in-person round-table discussions were conducted prior to the World Para-Taekwondo Championships (Antalya, Turkey, 2019), with a ﬁnal online questionnaire thereafter. A select group of experts, such as athletes, coaches, administrators, classiﬁers, and athletes were invited to partake, with the main outcome measures being the expert opinions and ranking of importance for research into issues affecting Para Taekwondo athletes. Results: The results of the discuss provide suggestions and opinions for the following areas are provided for the aim of classiﬁcation, minimum impairment criteria, fairness of classes, combination of classes, competition time, mixing of different impairments, safety of cerebral palsy athletes, weight classes, gender differences, intentional misrepresentation, personal protectors, time for re-classiﬁcation, and research priorities. Conclusion: The most prevalent issue highlighted was the concern for athlete safety, especially for the K44 class, which has a mixture of neurological impairments, i.e. an athlete with mild cerebral palsy (CP) competing against an athlete with an amputation. Furthermore, on the issue of safety, developing protectors for athletes was another key issue raised. Therefore, in the future, we can strongly recommend research initiatives to examine the safety of athletes with various impairment types in the same class, and the development of protectors for Para Taekwondo athletes.

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Clinical and Ethical Issues in Palliative Care and Dementia—An Overview

US Neurology ◽

10.17925/usn.2011.07.01.10 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 07 (01) ◽

pp. 10

Author(s):

Emma L Teper ◽

Julian C Hughes ◽

◽

Keyword(s):

Palliative Care ◽

Ethical Issues ◽

Terminal Condition ◽

Ethical Framework ◽

Artificial Nutrition ◽

Spiritual Needs ◽

Artificial Nutrition And Hydration ◽

Expert Opinions ◽

People With Dementia ◽

Broad Term

The prevalence of dementia across Europe and the world is increasing. People die with and from dementia and, as such, advanced dementia can be considered a terminal condition. This, alongside the realization that care for people with dementia is deficient, has led to increasing interest in palliative care in dementia. Palliative care can be a rather broad term with different meanings, but nonetheless guidelines and expert opinions have been developed with the aim of improving overall care for people with dementia. Although at times the evidence on which these guidelines are based is somewhat sparse, they provide guidance in specific areas relevant to dementia. The main areas covered are pain, infection and fevers, artificial nutrition and hydration, resuscitation, and psychological, social, and spiritual needs. We shall consider the evidence on which guidance is based and then highlight a recent ethical framework developed to help thinking around the issues that arise in dementia care.

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Development of a Heat-Illness Screening Instrument Using the Delphi Panel Technique

Journal of Athletic Training ◽

10.4085/1062-6050-46.2.176 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 46 (2) ◽

pp. 176-184 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Lindsey E. Eberman ◽

Michelle A. Cleary

Keyword(s):

Delphi Study ◽

Screening Instrument ◽

Delphi Panel ◽

Heat Illness ◽

Clinical Expertise ◽

Research Experience ◽

Face To Face ◽

Expert Opinions ◽

The Mean ◽

Strongly Agree

Abstract Context: Exertional heat illness (EHI) is the third leading cause of death among athletes, but with preparticipation screening, risk factors can be identified, and some EHIs can be prevented. Objective: To establish content validity of the Heat Illness Index Score (HIIS), a 10-item screening instrument designed to identify athletes at risk for EHI during a preparticipation examination. Design: Delphi study. Setting: The Delphi technique included semistructured face-to-face or telephone interviews and included electronic questionnaires administered via e-mail. Patients or Other Participants: Six individuals with extensive research experience and/or clinical expertise in EHI participated as expert panelists. Main Outcome Measure(s): We used a Delphi panel technique (3 rounds) to evaluate the HIIS with the consensus of expert opinions. For round 1, we conducted face-to-face interviews with the panelists. For round 2, we solicited panelists' feedback of the transcribed data to ensure trustworthiness, then provided the participants with the revised HIIS and a questionnaire eliciting their levels of agreement for each revision from the previous round on a visual analog scale (11.4 cm) with extreme indicators of strongly disagree and strongly agree. We calculated the mean and SD for each revision and accepted when the mean was greater than 7.6 cm (agree) and the SD still permitted a positive response (>5.7 cm), suggesting consensus. For round 3, we instructed participants to indicate their levels of agreement with each final, revised item and their levels of agreement with the entire instrument on a 4-point Likert scale (1 = strongly disagree, 4 = strongly agree). Results: In round 1, panelists supported all 10 items but requested various revisions. In round 2, 16.3% (7 of 43) revisions were rejected, and 2 revisions were modified. In round 3, 100% of panelists reported agreeing (n = 3 of 6) or strongly agreeing (n = 3 of 6) with the final instrument. Conclusions: Panelists were able to achieve consensus and validated the content of the HIIS, as well as the instrument itself. Implementation and further analysis are necessary to effectively identify the diagnostic accuracy of the HIIS.

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Qualitative Delphi approach of advanced algae biofuels

Management of Environmental Quality An International Journal ◽

10.1108/meq-03-2014-0046 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 26 (6) ◽

pp. 852-871 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Lauro Andre Ribeiro ◽

Patricia Pereira da Silva

Keyword(s):

Delphi Method ◽

Delphi Study ◽

Design Methodology ◽

Theoretical Work ◽

Content Type ◽

Technical Data ◽

Algae Biofuels ◽

Expert Opinions ◽

Delphi Approach ◽

Source Of Information

Purpose – Currently, experimental and theoretical work is being performed to ensure that biofuels from microalgae become a reality. However, there is a considerable number of discussions concerning in which processes should be focussed efforts of research and development. The purpose of this paper is to provide decision support not only to help build guidelines of research to be undertaken, but also to contribute to the design of more adequate policy and funding instruments. The key objective of this study is to determine the prospects of employing microalgae into the production of biofuels within a time scale extending to 2030. Design/methodology/approach – The Delphi method is a qualitative research aiming to support strategic future-oriented action, such as policy making in the areas of science and technology. It is especially appropriate in judgment and long-range forecasting (20-30 years) situations, when expert opinions are often the only source of information available, due to a lack of appropriate historical, economic or technical data. Findings – The Delphi method proved to be a successful research method when expert opinions are the main source of information available, due to a lack of appropriate historical, economic or technical data and the outcomes provided a clear outline of the main issues of microalgae biofuels’ market at present and in the future. Research limitations/implications – The outcomes might not represent the majority of the microalgae experts’ opinion due to the sample size. Originality/value – The work presented in this paper is especially original. According to the authors’ knowledge, this is the first qualitative Delphi study related to algae biofuels.

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