Comparing Research Priority-Setting Partnerships for Older Adults Across International Health Care Systems: A...

Area of Science:

• Geriatric Medicine
• Health Services Research
• Global Health

Background:

• Priority Setting Partnerships (PSPs) aim to align research agendas with population needs.
• Older adults represent a growing demographic with complex healthcare requirements.
• International variations in healthcare systems necessitate localized research prioritization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and compare Priority Setting Partnerships (PSPs) for older adults' healthcare across diverse global systems.
• To identify research gaps and quality issues in existing PSPs for geriatric care.

Main Methods:

• A systematic review of PSPs for older adults' healthcare was conducted.
• Data were extracted and categorized based on the British geriatric medicine curriculum.
• Evidence maps were generated to compare research gaps, and PSP quality was assessed.

Main Results:

• Thirty-two PSPs were identified, predominantly from the United Kingdom (n=25) and the United States (n=7); none were found for South Korea or Africa.
• Identified priorities focused on treatments in the UK and prognostic factors in the US.
• Significant research gaps exist, particularly for conditions like continence and frailty, and PSPs often lacked ethnic minority inclusion.

Conclusions:

• There is a lack of comprehensive PSPs for older adults' healthcare in many global regions.
• Existing PSPs, even in developed nations, overlook core geriatric syndromes and lack diversity.
• Future research prioritization must be globally inclusive, focus on essential geriatric conditions, and engage all stakeholders.