Abstract: Objective To develop a checklist of nursing rounds for patients with severe abdominal trauma, and provide guidelines for clinically structured nursing rounds. Methods Through literature review, semi-structured interview and expert meeting, a preliminary pool of items in the nursing rounds checklist was constructed. With Delphi method, two rounds of expert correspondence to the checklist among 18 experts were conducted, and finally the nursing rounds checklist for patients with severe abdominal trauma was developed. Results The final checklist consisted of 3 first-level, 11 second-level and 42 third-level indicators. The effective recovery rate of the two rounds of expert inquiry was 90% and 100%, respectively; expert authority coefficient 0.918 and 0.916, respectively and Kendall's W coefficient 0.356 and 0.358 respectively (P<0.001). The importance value of each item ranged from 0 to 0.189 and the coefficient of variation from 0 to 0.192. Conclusion In this study, a checklist of nursing rounds for patients with severe abdominal trauma is constructed after expert consultation and the experts are active, authoritative, and coordinated. Being reliable, the checklist provides reference for clinically structured nursing rounds for patients with severe abdominal trauma.

Key words: severe abdominal trauma, nursing rounds, checklist, Delphi method