Assessing the impact of defining a global priority research agenda to address HIV-associated tuberculosis

[GRAN-ONCO: "German Research Agenda for Nursing Oncology" - Development of a nursing research agenda of oncology nursing in Germany]

GRAN-ONCO: "German Research Agenda for Nursing Oncology" - Development of a nursing research agenda of oncology nursing in Germany Abstract. Background: The establishment of research priorities and bundling in an agenda is an instrument to systematize the multitude of nursing research topics. In contrast to other countries, there is currently no oncological nursing research agenda in Germany. Aim: Development of a research agenda for oncological nursing as part of a discursive process, taking into account different perspectives of the groups of people involved in oncological nursing. Method: Within the framework of a mixed methods design, oncological research topics were identified on the basis of a systematic literature review and prioritized and completed by nurses in oncological nursing practice and research through a survey using a standardized online questionnaire as well as qualitative expert groups. Results: The synthesis of the literature included 29 publications from which 55 topics were extracted. Based on the results of the survey, 23 topics were identified as priorities. According to the result of the survey and the feedback of the experts (n = 15), special attention should be paid to the following topics in the future: disease and therapy-related effects and the associated needs and changes. At the same time, communication, information, counseling, and education as well as the question of quality of life and care at the end of life due to the disease should be prioritized for nursing research. Conclusion: For the first time, a research agenda for oncological nursing is available for Germany. It is an important step in professionalization and thus offers orientation for the scientific further development of oncological nursing.

The Military Women's Health Delphi Study: A Research Agenda for the Next Decade

INTRODUCTION

As the burgeoning roles of women afford them the opportunities to perform in all combat and combat support assignments, the impact of all environmental, occupational, physical, and psychosocial factors inherent in military training and operations on their health must be considered. A robust foundation of knowledge is necessary to ascertain, prevent, and treat the potential impacts on women's health. However, a systematic review of the literature from 2000-2015 revealed widespread gaps in scientific knowledge of the musculoskeletal, psychological, occupational, and reproductive health of military women. The purpose of this study is to determine priorities for military women's health (MWH) research that will serve to fill these gaps in knowledge.

METHODS

An advisory group of 11 senior military and women's health experts conducted a structured gap analysis of the results of a scoping review of literature from 2000 to 2015 and Military Health System utilization data to identify 15 topics for prioritization in MWH research. A modified e-Delphi study was conducted and consensus was achieved after two rounds. Participants (N = 32) included subject matter experts (SME) representing various professions enrolled, 23 completed both rounds. In round 1, topics were rated on forced Likert scales for relevance and feasibility to medical readiness and comments were elicited from the SMEs. Relevance and feasibility scores and themes from the comments guided the development of the round 2 survey, in which SMEs categorized the topics in terms of urgency and forced-choice ranked the priority of each topic. The quantitative data were analyzed using multilevel regression methods. Linear mixed models were fit separately on the numeric outcomes for feasibility, relevance, and urgency with research topic as the primary predictor. To analyze the rankings of research topic priority, crude and adjusted linear regression models were fit on the numeric outcome rank.

RESULTS

The adjusted top five topics for research priorities as indicated by ranking were: genitourinary health, sleep, physical assault, behavioral health, and menstrual cycle research. The advisory group reviewed the findings in the context of Department of Defense strategic priorities and provided guidance on the design and dissemination of the MWH research agenda.

CONCLUSIONS

The MWH research agenda is a validated research agenda of high-priority research topics that will promote enduring efforts to ensure evidence-based practices and health policies for military women through research.

A scoping review on research agendas to enhance prevention of epidemics and pandemics in Africa

Introduction

research is not only needed to prioritise the best possible response during an epidemic and pandemic, it is also understood to be a core pillar of outbreak response. However, few African countries are equipped to perform the needed surveillance and research activities during an outbreak. Therefore, we mapped out research agendas aimed at increased research preparedness towards epidemics or pandemics in Africa.

Methods

eligible studies were searched for in in PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Additionally, grey literature was sought in Google, citation searches, as well as targeted sites such as the World Health Organization (WHO), Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, African Union, and the Wellcome Trust. Searches were done in March 2020.

Results

the electronic searches yielded 7344 records, of which 34 articles were included in the study. The studies identified around 18 factors highlighted through various research agendas. Majority of the research agendas spoke to general epidemic preparedness and focused largely on understanding virus transmission such as its characteristics and dynamics, and the infrastructure needed to carry out vital research activities.

Conclusion

the review highlights the research needs in order to carry out vital research work but to also bridge knowledge gaps and harmonize outbreak response from key stakeholders. However, Africa needs to create its own health research agendas and capacitate itself to conduct and lead these studies. African health research decisions must center on Africa, with African researchers taking the lead not only on the science produced but ensuring inclusive and equitable involvement from fellow researchers, and in engaging national health ministries as well as the communities.

Identifying research questions for HIV, tuberculosis, tuberculosis-HIV, malaria, and neglected tropical diseases through the World Health Organization guideline development process: a retrospective analysis, 2008-2018

OBJECTIVES

World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for health programmes and healthcare delivery are the foundation of its technical leadership in public health and essential to decision-making globally. A key function of guideline development is to identify areas in which further evidence is needed because filling these gaps will lead to future improvements in population health. The objective of this study was to examine the knowledge gaps and research questions for addressing those gaps generated through the WHO guideline development process, with the goal of informing future strategies for improving and strengthening the guideline development process.

STUDY DESIGN

We did a systematic, retrospective analysis of research questions identified in the published guidelines.

METHODS

We analyzed guidelines published between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2018, by the Communicable Diseases Cluster in five disease areas: tuberculosis (TB), HIV, malaria, TB-HIV, and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Research questions were extracted independently by two researchers. We analyzed the distribution of research questions by disease and by topic category and did a qualitative assessment of optimum practice for research question generation during the guideline development process.

RESULTS

A total of 48 guidelines were included: 26 on HIV, 1 on malaria, 11 on TB, 5 on TB/HIV, and 5 on NTDs. Overall, 36 (75%) guidelines encompassed a total of 360 explicit research questions; the remainder did not contain specific research questions. The number of research questions that focused on TB was 49, TB/HIV was 38, HIV was 250, and NTDs was 23. The number of research questions that focused on diagnosis was 43 (11.9%) of 360, prevention was 62 (17.2%), treatment was 103 (28.6%), good practice was 12 (3.3%), service delivery was 86 (23.8%), and other areas was 54 (15%). Research questions were often not formulated in a specific or actionable way and were hard to identify in the guideline. Examples of good practice identified by the review team involved the generation of specific and narrowly defined research questions, with accompanying recommendations for appropriate study design.

CONCLUSIONS

The WHO must strengthen its approach to identifying and presenting research questions during the guideline development process. Ensuring access to research questions is a key next step in adding value to the guideline development process.

Prioritäten der Pflegeforschung für das Themenfeld "Dementia Care" im deutschsprachigen Raum - Eine Delphi-Studie

Priorities of nursing research in dementia care in German-speaking countries - A Delphi study Abstract. Background and objective: To meet the central needs of people with dementia, their relatives and their caregivers in complex living conditions and care situations, a substantive examination of research priorities is required. The aim of this work was the identification and prioritisation of nursing research topics concerning dementia care in German-speaking countries.

METHODS

To identify existing research agendas in dementia care, we conducted a systematic literature research. As part of a Delphi process, systematically identified dementia care experts from German-speaking countries supplemented research priorities extracted from existing research agendas and assessed their importance. Subsequently, they prioritized topics of particular importance for nursing research.

RESULTS

Fifteen experts supplemented 61 topics previously identified in existing research agendas. They assessed 107 topics in terms of their importance and prioritized 79 topics.

CONCLUSIONS

The research priorities developed are a potential framework for nursing science, health policy and research funding in order to structure research activities. To ensure currency, priorities should be regularly updated and re-opened for discussion.

Setting Global Research Priorities in Pediatric and Adolescent HIV Using the Child Health and Nutrition Research Initiative (CHNRI) Methodology

Background:

WHO and the Collaborative Initiative for Paediatric HIV Education and Research (CIPHER) of the International AIDS Society (IAS) led a collaborative process to set global prioritized research agendas, aiming to focusing future research, funding, and stakeholder's efforts. This study describes the methodology used to establish the research agendas.

Methods:

The Child Health and Nutrition Research Initiative methodology was adapted in parallel exercises on pediatric and adolescent HIV. After definition of scope by an expert working group, priority questions were collected from stakeholders through an online survey. Submitted questions were coded, analyzed, and collated. The same respondents were asked to score the collated lists through a second online survey. The top 10 ranked questions per thematic area (testing, treatment, and service delivery) were reviewed and priority themes developed with consideration of existing policy, systematic reviews, and planned, ongoing, and recently published research.

Results:

A total of 375 respondents submitted 1735 priority research questions. The majority of respondents were from Africa; 55% self-identified as researchers. The final collated lists included 51 and 61 research questions for pediatric and adolescent HIV, respectively. The response rate for the second survey was 48%. The final research agendas include 5 priority research themes per area, discussed in 2 separate publications.

Conclusions:

To date, this is the largest example of the Child Health and Nutrition Research Initiative method in pediatric and adolescent HIV in terms of stakeholders reached, and the first to incorporate top thematic areas based on current evidence. Its impact on improving outcomes for these populations will require strong political and financial commitment.

Identifying priorities for HIV-associated tuberculosis research through the WHO guidelines process

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Guidelines developed by the WHO aim to provide recommendations to support best practice in health delivery, with a focus on low-income and middle-income countries. As part of the guideline development process, critical knowledge gaps are identified and one of the core functions of WHO guidelines is to set forth priorities for future research. A review of research priorities identified through the WHO guideline development has recently been promoted as one approach to building an overarching priority research agenda in a given area. This paper outlines priorities for HIV-associated TB research identified in WHO HIV and TB guidelines published since 2015.

RECENT FINDINGS

Nine guidelines were reviewed and 29 priority research questions were identified. Research priorities were identified for prevention of HIV-associated TB (11 questions), screening of latent and active TB in people living with HIV (six questions), treatment of drug sensitive (four questions), and drug-resistant (two questions) TB, and treatment of HIV in people coinfected with TB (three questions).

SUMMARY

Multiple approaches to defining priority research questions for health research exist. Research priorities that arise from the WHO guideline development process are limited to those areas for which guidelines are developed. One strength of this approach is that it takes as a starting point a desire to make actionable recommendations for policy makers. WHO is working to further refine the formulation of research questions within the guideline development process.