Gastroenterology nurse prescribing in China: A Delphi method

Aim: This study aims to identify and reach a consensus among experts on the specific gastroenterology drugs that a gastroenterology nurse may be able to prescribe.

Design: This study employs a modified Delphi design to reach a consensus among medical and nursing experts about the gastroenterology system drugs that nurses may prescribe medication.

Method: From August 2019-November 2019, a two-round study, consisting of 26 medical and nursing experts, was conducted using the Delphi method. IBM SPSS Ver. 22 and descriptive statistical software were used to analyse the results of the consultations.

Results: A total of 37 drugs across nine categories are identified as relevant to Chinese nurses working in gastroenterology departments. Among them, four drugs are generally prescribed independently, 24 tend to be prescribed collaboratively and nine are prescribed either independently, or in collaboration with others.

Conclusions: This list is a fundamental and dependable instrument for identifying the gastroenterology drugs that could possibly be prescribed by gastroenterology nurses in China. The research results have important guiding significance for the formulation and implementation of relevant policies for nurses to prescribe medicines.

Impact: Nurse prescribing has become a global trend and is slowly gaining attention in China under the development strategy of 'Healthy China'. As such, this list will give some reference for policy formulation and implementation of future nurse prescribing in mainland China.