Objectives: To identify topics for research that are important to people with ulcerative colitis, and to provide a framework by which their research priorities can be analysed.
Methods: This is a qualitative study using focus groups and interviews. Forty people with ulcerative colitis participated. Topics for research of importance to participants were identified and analysed using the Framework method.
Results: Topics were grouped into nine main categories: finding the cause of colitis, cure of colitis, prevention of colitis, living with colitis, treatment (conventional, complementary and surgical) and its complications, control of particular symptoms, information provision, communicating with health professionals and methods of service delivery. An initial framework to classify the research priorities of people with colitis is provided.
Conclusions: This study suggests the potential to utilize patients' views to generate research topics that are rarely researched and to involve them in setting the research agenda. People with ulcerative colitis are able to identify many different areas of research that they feel are important to them. This may help to ensure that research is relevant to patients' needs.