Delineating and Operationalizing the Definition of Patient-Oriented Research: A Modified e-Delphi Study

Area of Science:

• Health research methodology
• Knowledge translation
• Evidence-based practice

Background:

• Patient-oriented research (POR) is increasingly recognized across health disciplines.
• The current definition of POR by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) is too broad, complicating the identification of relevant publications.
• A precise definition is needed for accurate literature searches and consistent application.

Purpose of the Study:

• To adapt the CIHR definition of POR into an operational definition.
• To facilitate the reliable selection of POR-related publications from bibliographic databases.
• To establish a shared understanding of POR among patients and stakeholders.

Main Methods:

• A modified e-Delphi study involving 18 POR experts in Québec, Canada.
• Two rounds of surveys were conducted to achieve consensus on POR characteristics.
• Generalizability was assessed through consultation with POR experts across Canada.

Main Results:

• Consensus was reached to remove the characteristic "POR can be conducted in partnership with relevant stakeholders" due to redundancy and confusion.
• Key concepts such as "continuum," "direct impact," and "patient" were identified for further definition.
• An operational definition of POR was successfully developed based on expert consensus.

Conclusions:

• The developed operational definition of POR aims to provide a common understanding for patients and stakeholders.
• This initiative seeks to improve the focus on patient-important outcomes.
• Ultimately, the study intends to contribute to enhanced quality of care through better-defined POR.