Setting research priorities to reduce burden of cancer in Iran: an institutional experience

The aim of this study was to draw a set of priority areas of cancer research in order to utilize these priorities as broader policy for decision-making on a comprehensive cancer control program at the national level in Iran.

A steering committee consisting of scientists from the three major areas of clinical, basic research and public health sciences recommended a qualitative study of ranking an exhaustive outlines of cancer science topics by cancer scientists throughout country. Scientists were identified through Medline search and contacting cancer research centers all over the country. An exhausting outline of cancer science topics was modified and posed to Iranian cancer scientists. Doing research on each outlined topic was judged based on its state of being necessary, appropriate, practical or yielding in the Iranian societal context. An electronic system of communication was developed and all scientists were asked to rank each topic based in order of 1 to 5. As the areas of expertise of scientists were diverse, the participants had the option to rank the outlined topics that they think suitable to their areas.

Out of 135 identified scientists, 108 participated of whom 56 were clinicians (M.D's with university appointment), 35 basic scientists and 17 epidemiologists and public health scientists. As the top first five areas of research priorities, the overall assessment indicated as research topics: 1) cancer surveillance and registration as the first priority; followed by 2) exogenous factors in the origin and cause of cancer; 3) surveillance--patient care and survivorship issues; 4) issues of end-of-life care; and 5) cost analyses and health care delivery of cancer services.

The study concluded that research on infrastructure of cancer control programs, cancer registration, service delivery and patient quality of life bears higher priority in Iran.