Connecting Findings to Meaningful Change: The Benefits of Using Qualitative Delphi in Empirical Ethics and Policy Research in Long-Term Care

There is a symbiotic relationship between qualitative research and knowledge mobilization. However, there is often a significant lag between the conduct of research and the findings reaching the public (including those it impacts and those with the power to make change). In designing my study on ethics and policy in long-term care (LTC) with the aim of improving quality care, I sought a method that would not only generate broad data but data on which stakeholders would be able to more readily act and thus promote meaningful and timely change. With this goal in mind, I adopted an empirical ethics approach with the aim of consensus building and used an innovative qualitative Delphi method to explore ethics and ethical reasoning in LTC and the interaction between frontline practice and organizational and public policy. While the Delphi method is starting to gain more recognition alongside more well-known qualitative methods, it has yet to be used in the exploration of empirical ethics and policy in LTC. The rich findings from this study suggest it has the potential of expanding the breadth of qualitative inquiry, as it draws on real-world practice and decision-making to promote consensus in areas of organizational, policy, and practice change. There is a need for further research using a modified qualitative Delphi method in empirical ethics and policy research in LTC, as well as other areas. However, the results of this study suggest the suitability and benefits of the approach for qualitative inquiry and propose researchers seeking to expand research findings, knowledge mobilization, and to connect findings to meaningful and practical change should consider adopting the Delphi method.