Guideline for incorporating the Delphi method in the evaluation of nursing theories

OBJECTIVE: to describe a guideline for the use of the Delphi method to evaluate nursing theories, from the perspective of internal validation. METHOD: a methodological study, targeted at the development of a guideline for the use of the Delphi method in the evaluation of nursing theories. RESULTS: the Delphi method, principles of collective wisdom and levels of proficiency are used in the production of a guideline for organizing, searching, selecting and coordinating the activities of theoretical evaluators in teams. It distinguishes three phases for the theoretical evaluation process: Preparatory Phase (PP); Intermediate Phase (IP) and Theory Evaluation (TE) phase, incorporating Delphi-type selection procedures; search, selection and classification of judges/evaluators for the theory; definition of criteria for carrying out rounds and maintenance or removal of units of the theory evaluated. CONCLUSION: the developed guideline was able to adapt the elements of the Delphi method as a favorable strategy for the internal validation of nursing theories.