Consensus research priorities for cerebral palsy: a Delphi survey of consumers, researchers, and clinicians.
OBJECTIVE
Research funds for cerebral palsy are scarce and competition for them is strong. This study aimed to identify questions for future research that were agreed to be a high priority.


METHODS
An expert panel of consumers, researchers, and clinicians was assembled (n=127) and surveyed using a Delphi survey comprising three rounds. In round I, participants identified three important research topics. Three parallel surveys were constructed: (1) consumers; (2) intervention researchers and clinicians; and (3) aetiology and prevention researchers. In rounds II and III, participants rated priorities using a seven-point Likert scale. Questions reaching consensus were itemized and those not reaching consensus were discarded.


RESULTS
Consumers identified questions in the themes of prevention/cure, quality of life/community participation, and service provision/intervention. Intervention researchers/clinicians identified questions in the themes of effective outcomes and effective research/services. Aetiology and prevention researchers identified questions in the themes of infection/inflammation, focus on timing, haematology, research tools, neuroregeneration, and genetics. Fifty per cent of the consumers' priorities were also identified by professionals.


CONCLUSIONS
Research priorities change as evidence is established. Phase II of this project is to develop a web portal with international collaboration. As evidence builds for one research question, it will be added to the web portal and unanswered questions will become the priority.
McIntyre
Sarah
S
Cerebral Palsy Institute, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. smcintyre@tscnsw.org.au
Novak
Iona
I
Cusick
Anne
A
D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D032921:Consensus; D003697:Delphi Technique; D006801:Humans; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D012106:Research / Q000592:standards*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires