title: A research agenda for radiation oncology: results of the radiation oncology institute's comprehensive research needs assessment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To promote the rational use of scarce research funding, scholars have developed methods for the systematic identification and prioritization of health research needs. The Radiation Oncology Institute commissioned an independent, comprehensive assessment of research needs for the advancement of radiation oncology care.
  
  
  METHODS
  The research needs assessment used a mixed-method, qualitative and quantitative social scientific approach, including structured interviews with diverse stakeholders, focus groups, surveys of American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) members, and a prioritization exercise using a modified Delphi technique.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six co-equal priorities were identified: (1) Identify and develop communication strategies to help patients and others better understand radiation therapy; (2) Establish a set of quality indicators for major radiation oncology procedures and evaluate their use in radiation oncology delivery; (3) Identify best practices for the management of radiation toxicity and issues in cancer survivorship; (4) Conduct comparative effectiveness studies related to radiation therapy that consider clinical benefit, toxicity (including quality of life), and other outcomes; (5) Assess the value of radiation therapy; and (6) Develop a radiation oncology registry.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To our knowledge, this prioritization exercise is the only comprehensive and methodologically rigorous assessment of research needs in the field of radiation oncology. Broad dissemination of these findings is critical to maximally leverage the impact of this work, particularly because grant funding decisions are often made by committees on which highly specialized disciplines such as radiation oncology are not well represented.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. rjagsi@med.umich.edu
authors.forename: Reshma
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jagsi
authors.forename: Justin E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Bekelman
authors.forename: Otis W
authors.initials: OW
authors.lastname: Brawley
authors.forename: Joseph O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Deasy
authors.forename: Quynh-Thu
authors.initials: QT
authors.lastname: Le
authors.forename: Jeff M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Michalski
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Movsas
authors.forename: Charles R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Colleen A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Lawton
authors.forename: Theodore S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Lawrence
authors.forename: Stephen M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Hahn
mesh_terms: D000047:Academies and Institutes; D003697:Delphi Technique; D006801:Humans; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000592:standards*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000592:standards; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control; D018787:Radiation Oncology / Q000592:standards*; D012042:Registries; D012955:Societies, Medical; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States