Priority setting for adult malnutrition and nutritional screening in healthcare: a James Lind Alliance.

BACKGROUND: Malnutrition is one the greatest global health challenges of our generation, leading to the increased utilisation of healthcare resources, as well as morbidity and mortality. Research has primarily been driven by industry, academia and clinical working groups and has had little involvement from patients and carers. The project described in the present study aimed to establish a priority setting partnership allowing patients, carers and healthcare professionals an opportunity to influence the research agenda. METHODS: A national survey was conducted to gather malnutrition uncertainties and identify key issues (i.e. areas within scope where an evidence-base is lacking) from those with experience of malnutrition. Uncertainties were analysed according to themes. Similar questions were grouped and summary questions were developed. A second survey was conducted and respondents were asked to choose their 10 most important summary questions. A workshop was conducted to finalise the top 10 research priorities from the most frequently indicated uncertainties on the interim survey. RESULTS: Overall, 1128 uncertainty questions were submitted from 268 people. The interim survey had 71 responses and a list of the top 26 questions was generated for the workshop. There were 26 questions discussed, ranked and agreed by healthcare professionals, carers and patients at the workshop. The top 10 research priorities were then chosen. These included questions on oral nutritional supplements, vulnerable groups, screening, community care, use of body mass index and technology. CONCLUSIONS: The top 10 research priorities in malnutrition and nutritional screening have been identified from a robust process involving patients, carers and healthcare professionals.

Hacia la formulación de una Agenda de Investigación en Discapacidad para Colombia / Towards the formulation of a Disability Research Agenda for Colombia / Por uma Agenda de Pesquisa sobre Deficiência para Colômbia

Resumen Objetivo: describir el proceso y los resultados de la primera fase del proyecto Construcción de una agenda de investigación en discapacidad para Colombia. Metodología: se elaboró una primera aproximación a la agenda de investigación en discapacidad a través de un proceso participativo desarrollado en seis momentos: 1) Identificación y convocatoria de actores a nivel regional y nacional; 2) Preparación de una propuesta inicial de grandes áreas y temas prioritarios en la agenda; 3) Mesas de regionales para la identificación de necesidades y capacidades de investigación, y discusión de la propuesta inicial; 4) Recategorización a partir de los aportes regionales; 5) Mesa nacional para la concertación de áreas prioritarias y categorías transversales de investigación; 6) Socialización. Resultados: se configura una propuesta de agenda orientada por cuatro categorías transversales y con cinco áreas temáticas. Se avanza en la aproximación a subtemas, que aún requieren mayor desarrollo. Esta propuesta se constituye en una base que debe ser complementada y validada en una fase posterior del proyecto. Conclusiones: una agenda de investigación en discapacidad que recoja las necesidades y capacidades de los diversos actores involucrados en la generación y apropiación del conocimiento en dicho campo, apunta al mejor aprovechamiento y al desarrollo de las capacidades y los recursos destinados a la investigación, así como a investigaciones transdiciplinarias que contribuyan a la toma de decisiones políticas y a la transformación de las realidades sociales del colectivo de personas con discapacidad y sus familias en el país y sus territorios.

Abstract Objective: to describe the process and results of the first stage in the project Development of a research agenda on disability for Colombia. Methodology: a first approach to the agenda of research on disability was developed through a participative process with six moments: 1) Identification and call for regional and national actors; 2) Preparation of an initial proposal including main areas and priority topics on the agenda; 3) Regional boards for the identification of research needs and abilities, and discussion of the initial proposal; 4) Reclassification from the contributions of the regional boards; 5) National board for the coordination of priority areas and cross-cutting research categories; 6) socialization. Results: the study configures and agenda proposal oriented by four cross-sectional categories and five thematic areas. There was progress approaching subtopics, which still require more development. This proposal is constituted on a base that must be complemented and validated in a later stage of the project. Conclusions: a research agenda on disability that collects the needs and abilities of the various actors involved in the generation and dissemination of knowledge in this field aims to an improvement in the usage and development of abilities and resources destined to research, and to transdisciplinary research that contributes to the political decision making and the transformation of the social realities of the group of persons with disabilities and their families in the country and in their territories.

Resumo Objetivo: Descrever o processo e os resultados da primeira fase do projeto: Construção duma agenda de investigação em incapacidade para Colômbia. Metodologia: Se elaborou uma primeira aproximação pra agenda da investigação na incapacidade a través dum processo participativo desenvolvido em seis momentos: 1) Identificação e convocatória de atores num nível regional e nacional; 2) Preparação duma proposta inicial de grandes áreas e temas prioritários na agenda; 3) Mesas regionais pra identificação de necessidades e capacidades de investigação, e discussão da proposta inicial; 4) Recategorização a partir dos aportes regionais; 5) Mesa nacional pra concertação de áreas prioritárias e categorias viés de investigação; 6) Socialização. Resultados: Se configura uma proposta de agenda orientada por quatro categorias viés e com cinco áreas temáticas. Se avança na aproximação aos subtemas, que ainda requererem major desenvolvimento. Esta proposta se constitui numa base que deve ser complementada e validada numa fase posterior do projeto. Conclusões: Una agenda de investigação em incapacidade que recolha as necessidades e capacidades dos diversos atores envolvidos na geração e apropriação do conhecimento em dito campo, assinala ao melhor curtimento e ao desenvolvimento das capacidades e os recursos destinados pra investigação, assim como pra investigações transdisciplinares que contribuam na toma de decisões políticas e a mudança das realidades sociais do coletivo de pessoas com incapacidade e as suas famílias no país e os seus territórios.