Aligning valid research outcomes with stakeholder values-what do they need for decision-making?

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Epidemiology
• Preventive Medicine
• Animal Health Research

Background:

• Veterinary research validity is crucial, but outcomes must also be tailored for end-user decision-making.
• Stakeholders in veterinary research are diverse, including practitioners, owners, and the public, with varied needs.
• Traditional health metrics may not always reflect the values or concerns of all stakeholders.

Purpose of the Study:

• To emphasize the importance of aligning veterinary research outcomes with end-user values and decision-making processes.
• To advocate for stakeholder involvement in defining research outcomes beyond traditional measures.
• To highlight the potential for bias when outcomes are not stakeholder-informed from the outset.

Main Methods:

• The paper is derived from a presentation at the 2024 Symposium for the Calvin Schwabe Award.
• It reviews the principles of ensuring research validity and outcome relevance in veterinary epidemiology.
• It discusses the spectrum of stakeholders and their diverse needs in animal health research.

Main Results:

• Research outcomes need to be specified to inform and enable decision-making by diverse end-users.
• Sustainability frameworks and contemporary companion animal issues necessitate broader outcome considerations.
• Failure to incorporate stakeholder values into primary outcome definitions can introduce error and bias.

Conclusions:

• Veterinary research must prioritize stakeholder-informed outcomes for practical application and effective decision-making.
• Integrating social, economic, and environmental impacts is essential, particularly in animal agriculture and companion animal care.
• Proactive, stakeholder-driven outcome definition is key to robust and relevant veterinary research.