title: Top ten research priorities for spinal cord injury: the methodology and results of a British priority setting partnership.
abstract: METHODS
  This is a mixed-method consensus development project.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to identify a top ten list of priorities for future research into spinal cord injury (SCI).
  
  
  METHODS
  The British Spinal Cord Injury Priority Setting Partnership was established in 2013 and completed in 2014. Stakeholders included consumer organisations, healthcare professional societies and caregivers.
  
  
  METHODS
  This partnership involved the following four key stages: (i) gathering of research questions, (ii) checking of existing research evidence, (iii) interim prioritisation and (iv) a final consensus meeting to reach agreement on the top ten research priorities. Adult individuals with spinal cord dysfunction because of trauma or non-traumatic causes, including transverse myelitis, and individuals with a cauda equina syndrome (henceforth grouped and referred to as SCI) were invited to participate in this priority setting partnership.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We collected 784 questions from 403 survey respondents (290 individuals with SCI), which, after merging duplicate questions and checking systematic reviews for evidence, were reduced to 109 unique unanswered research questions. A total of 293 people (211 individuals with SCI) participated in the interim prioritisation process, leading to the identification of 25 priorities. At a final consensus meeting, a representative group of individuals with SCI, caregivers and health professionals agreed on their top ten research priorities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Following a comprehensive, rigorous and inclusive process, with participation from individuals with SCI, caregivers and health professionals, the SCI research agenda has been defined by people to whom it matters most and should inform the scope and future activities of funders and researchers for the years to come.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre provided core funding for this project.
authors.affiliation: National Spinal Injuries Centre, Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Buckinghamshire NHS Trust, Aylesbury, UK.|Stoke Mandeville Spinal Research, National Spinal Injuries Centre, Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Buckinghamshire NHS Trust, Aylesbury, UK.|Harris Manchester College, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: van Middendorp
authors.affiliation: National Spinal Injuries Centre, Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Buckinghamshire NHS Trust, Aylesbury, UK.|Stoke Mandeville Spinal Research, National Spinal Injuries Centre, Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Buckinghamshire NHS Trust, Aylesbury, UK.
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Allison
authors.affiliation: Department of Spine Surgery, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, Wales.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ahuja
authors.affiliation: Spinal Injuries Association, Milton Keynes, UK.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bracher
authors.affiliation: Spinal Injuries Association, Milton Keynes, UK.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dyson
authors.affiliation: Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fairbank
authors.affiliation: London Spinal Cord Injury Centre, Stanmore, UK.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gall
authors.affiliation: Cauda Equina Syndrome UK Charity, Leicester, UK.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Glover
authors.affiliation: Transverse Myelitis Society, Brentford, UK.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.affiliation: Keele University, Keele, UK.
authors.forename: W El
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Masri
authors.affiliation: The Rooprai Spinal Trust, Hertford, UK.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Uttridge
authors.affiliation: James Lind Alliance, NIHR Evaluation Trials and Studies Coordinating Centre, Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cowan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000458:organization & administration; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D032921:Consensus; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology; D006292:Health Priorities; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D006113:United Kingdom; D055815:Young Adult