title: Development and pilot test of a process to identify research needs from a systematic review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To ensure appropriate allocation of research funds, we need methods for identifying high-priority research needs. We developed and pilot tested a process to identify needs for primary clinical research using a systematic review in gestational diabetes mellitus.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted eight steps: abstract research gaps from a systematic review using the Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcomes, and Settings (PICOS) framework; solicit feedback from the review authors; translate gaps into researchable questions using the PICOS framework; solicit feedback from multidisciplinary stakeholders at our institution; establish consensus among multidisciplinary external stakeholders on the importance of the research questions using the Delphi method; prioritize outcomes; develop conceptual models to highlight research needs; and evaluate the process.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified 19 research questions. During the Delphi method, external stakeholders established consensus for 16 of these 19 questions (15 with "high" and 1 with "medium" clinical benefit/importance).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We pilot tested an eight-step process to identify clinically important research needs. Before wider application of this process, it should be tested using systematic reviews of other diseases. Further evaluation should include assessment of the usefulness of the research needs generated using this process for primary researchers and funders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
authors.forename: Ian J
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Saldanha
authors.forename: Lisa M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Wendy L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.forename: Wanda K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Nicholson
authors.forename: Karen A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Robinson
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005376:Financial Management; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000191:economics; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012106:Research; D012107:Research Design; D014481:United States; D000078202:Systematic Reviews as Topic