Prioritizing research needs based on a systematic evidence review: a pilot process for engaging stakeholders

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Evidence Synthesis
• Stakeholder Engagement

Background:

• Systematic evidence reviews (SERs) are crucial for identifying research gaps.
• Existing methods for stakeholder input in research prioritization are varied.
• Prioritizing research requires diverse perspectives from consumers, clinicians, and researchers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To pilot a simple, replicable process for gathering input from consumers, clinicians, and researchers.
• To identify research priorities based on a 2009 SER on adult depression screening in primary care.
• To simultaneously solicit multi-stakeholder input for research prioritization.

Main Methods:

• Recruited 20 participants (clinicians, staff, researchers, advocates).
• Conducted a half-day event presenting SER methods and findings.
• Utilized profession-specific focus groups followed by a formal prioritization exercise.

Main Results:

• Themes focused on practical implications: resources for positive screens, system impact, and screening-treatment disconnect.
• Few themes were directly articulated as research questions.
• Top priorities identified were system effects of depression screening and its link to improved treatment.

Conclusions:

• A simple, replicable, half-day multi-stakeholder engagement process was successfully piloted.
• The process effectively gathered input based on a recent SER.
• Recommendations for improving future replications were noted.