Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 13, 2025
Involving Individuals with Developmental Language Disorder and Their Parents/Carers in Research Priority Setting
Published on: June 6, 2020
Development of a Consensus-based Agenda to Identify Priorities for Clinical Research in Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery
A Noelle Larson1,2, Ria Paradkar2, Matthew Schmitz1,3
1Pediatric Orthopedic Society of North America, Oakbrook Terrace, IL, USA.
Insights
This study developed a research agenda for pediatric orthopaedics by surveying experts. The goal is to guide future research and funding to improve evidence-based care for children with musculoskeletal conditions.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Orthopaedics
- Clinical Research
- Evidence-Based Medicine
Background:
- High-quality studies are needed in pediatric orthopaedics to address key clinical questions.
- Pediatric musculoskeletal conditions represent a significant burden, yet research funding remains low.
- A focused research agenda is crucial for advancing pediatric orthopaedic care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a consensus-based research agenda for pediatric orthopaedics.
- To identify and prioritize the most critical clinical research questions in the field.
- To guide future research efforts and funding allocation.
Main Methods:
- A modified Delphi technique was employed, involving iterative surveys of the Pediatric Orthopaedics Society of North America (POSNA) membership.
- A steering committee from POSNA leadership managed the survey process, including consolidation and editing of responses.
- A final voting round with 108 surgeons prioritized 54 questions, leading to the selection of the top 16 research priorities.
Main Results:
- 78 surgeons and scientists initially submitted 116 research questions, which were refined to 65.
- The final agenda includes 16 high-priority research questions identified through consensus.
- Key areas identified include the role of surgical treatment in cerebral palsy and indications for hip dysplasia.
Conclusions:
- The developed research agenda can direct surgeons, researchers, and funding bodies towards improving clinical evidence in pediatric orthopaedics.
- This agenda aims to foster collaboration and optimize resource allocation for high-quality prospective studies.
- Prioritizing these research questions will enhance evidence-based care and improve long-term outcomes for pediatric patients.
Background:
There is a need for additional high quality studies in children's orthopaedic surgery to answer important clinical research questions. The purpose of this study was to develop a consensus-based research agenda to identify top clinical questions to prioritize in pediatric orthopaedics.
Methods:
A modified Delphi technique was used, where the membership of the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America (POSNA) was asked to submit clinical research questions and then queried iteratively to gain consensus. A steering committee from the POSNA leadership members was assembled to administer, consolidate, and edit survey responses. Final scores were used to select the top 16 research questions distributed by subspecialty area.
Results:
Based on the call for clinical research questions, 78 orthopaedic surgeons and scientists submitted 116 research questions. The steering committee removed duplicate questions and harmonized submissions to 65 clinical research questions. In spring 2024, the POSNA membership participated in stage 1 voting and submitted 33 additional questions. Duplicate questions were removed. The final voting round included 108 surgeons who rated 54 questions from low (1) to high priority (5). The top scoring questions from each subspecialty area were selected to comprise the POSNA consensus-based clinical research agenda. The top scoring questions were related to the role of orthopaedic surgical treatment in cerebral palsy and surgical indications for residual hip dysplasia.
Conclusions:
This consensus-based research agenda may guide surgeons, researchers, study group consortia, and funding organizations to improve the clinical evidence in children's orthopaedic surgery and promote high-quality prospective studies.
Key Concepts:
(1)Despite the significant burden and cost of pediatric musculoskeletal conditions, pediatric orthopaedic research receives low research funding, underscoring the need for a focused research agenda.(2)This study used a modified Delphi process to engage pediatric orthopaedic surgeons across multiple pediatric orthopaedic subspecialties in the development of a consensus-based research agenda in order to identify high-priority clinical questions.(3)The final agenda reflects critical gaps in pediatric orthopaedic care, including conditions that impact long-term function and quality of life in pediatric orthopaedic patients.(4)The final agenda aims to guide future research, foster multicenter collaboration, and advocate optimized allocation of funding to improve evidence-based pediatric orthopaedic care.
Level Of Evidence:
Level IV (consensus-based expert opinion study).
Related Concept Videos
01:19Standards of Care II
01:22Standards of Care I
01:30Psychosurgery
Historical Development of Psychosurgery
In the 1930s, Portuguese neurologist Antonio Egas Moniz introduced a surgical procedure designed...