Optimizing Research Impact: A Toolkit for Stakeholder-Driven Prioritization of Systematic Review Topics

Area of Science:

• Health Research Methodology
• Evidence Synthesis
• Research Prioritization

Background:

• Prioritizing topics for evidence synthesis is critical for maximizing the impact of systematic reviews.
• Engaging diverse stakeholders ensures the relevance and applicability of selected research topics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a comprehensive toolkit for a structured, multi-step framework for stakeholder engagement in evidence synthesis topic prioritization.
• To facilitate the selection of relevant and applicable topics for systematic reviews.

Main Methods:

• An open-source framework with 11 steps, divided into scoping and Delphi stages.
• Provides ready-to-use tools, including online survey templates developed with free, open-source software.
• Ensures ease of replication and adaptation across various research fields.

Main Results:

• The framework supports transparent and systematic development and assessment of systematic review topics.
• Focuses on stakeholder-refined assessment criteria for topic evaluation.
• Enhances the transparency and ease of the priority-setting process.

Conclusions:

• The toolkit is a valuable resource for organizations and research groups making informed decisions on research prioritization.
• Aims to allocate resources for future research based on identified stakeholder needs.
• Promotes efficient and stakeholder-driven research agenda setting.