Priority setting for mental health research in Chile

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Policy
• Mental Health Research

Background:

• Effective health policy relies on scientific knowledge, yet a gap often exists between health research and policy decisions.
• This study addresses the need to identify and prioritize national research gaps in mental health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and prioritize a national set of research gaps in mental health.
• To establish a framework for future mental health research funding and policy development.

Main Methods:

• A multi-approach methodology was employed, including document analysis, key informant interviews, stakeholder focus groups, and academic web consultations.
• Identified knowledge gaps were formulated into research questions and prioritized using criteria such as extent of the gap, population size, benefit, vulnerability, urgency, and applicability.

Main Results:

• 155 research questions were prioritized, with 44% focusing on systems/program evaluation and 26% on intervention evaluation, including cost-effectiveness.
• The prioritization process involved 54 participants and integrated input from online consultations, key informants, and user groups.
• Key prioritization criteria included the extent of the knowledge gap, population size, potential benefit, vulnerability, urgency, and applicability.

Conclusions:

• A prioritized list of 155 mental health research questions was established, ordered by relevance for authorities and research agencies.
• This documented process can serve as a model for other countries seeking to develop similar research prioritization initiatives.
• The study highlights the importance of a structured approach to bridge the gap between mental health research and policy.