Top 10 priorities for chronic cough: Canadian James Lind Alliance Priority-Setting Partnership (CAN-COUGH)

Chronic cough significantly impacts individuals' quality of life and poses challenges for healthcare providers due to limited licensed treatments, side effects of available medications and difficulty accessing nonpharmacological interventions. Understanding priorities for research, education and knowledge dissemination from the perspectives of individuals with chronic cough and healthcare providers can guide future efforts. This study aimed to identify these key priorities in Canada.

We conducted a cross-sectional study using the James Lind Alliance (JLA) method to set priorities. Chronic cough was identified as the healthcare problem. Participants rated items related to research, education and knowledge dissemination in an online survey using a seven-point Likert scale. Results of the survey were reviewed by the Canadian Thoracic Society's (CTS) multidisciplinary working group and patient partners who engaged in a face-to-face Priority-Setting Partnership, to establish a "Top 10" priorities list for chronic cough.

74 individuals with chronic cough and 62 healthcare providers completed the scoping survey. The top-rated priorities included enhancing knowledge of existing treatments, developing new treatments and improving diagnostic testing. The final "Top 10" priorities list emphasised the need for developing infrastructure for evaluating new treatments, improving understanding of biological mechanisms and raising awareness among the public and policymakers.

This is the first priority-setting project for chronic cough, highlighting key areas to address in research, education and dissemination. The identified priorities will serve as a foundation for future efforts to improve the management and care of individuals with chronic cough.