A rapid priority setting exercise combining existing, emergent evidence with stakeholder knowledge identified broad topic uncertainties

Abstract

Objectives: The project aimed to rapidly identify priority topic uncertainties as a first step to identify future systematic review questions of pertinence to key international fecal incontinence (FI) stakeholders (patients, carers, health care professionals, policy makers and voluntary, community, or social enterprise representatives). The paper's aim is to share our methods, experience, and learning with other groups planning to deliver a rapid priority setting exercise.

Study design and setting: An evidence gap map incorporated three evidence streams: emerging evidence identified through horizon scanning; existing evidence identified through systematic searches of bibliographic databases; and FI stakeholder insights collected through an international survey. The evidence gap map was presented during an online workshop with stakeholders, where they shared their expertize to expand, refine, and rank topic uncertainties using ideation techniques, focus group discussions, consensus techniques, and online polling.

Results: The multistep methods used to deliver this priority setting exercise resulted in identification of broad priority topic uncertainties. The methods appear to have high acceptability and engagement with participants but await full evaluation.

Conclusion: This project successfully followed robust methodology, building upon frameworks from published priority setting and evidence gap mapping projects while incorporating strong patient and public involvement components.

Keywords: Cochrane collaboration; Evidence gap mapping; Evidence synthesis; Horizon scanning; Rapid priority setting exercise; Systematic review.