title: Developing research priorities in Australian primary health care: a focus on nutrition and physical activity.
abstract: Research priority setting is an important component of research planning, particularly when research options exceed available resources. This study identified the research priorities for supporting healthy lifestyle behaviours in the Australian primary healthcare setting. A five-step stakeholder engagement process was undertaken. Ten stakeholder organisations participated in the process, including patient representatives, health professional associations, health educators, researchers, government advisors and policymakers. Each organisation was asked to provide up to three research questions deemed as a priority. Research questions were critically appraised by the project team for answerability, sustainability, effectiveness, potential for translation and potential to affect disease burden. A blinded scoring system was used to rank the appraised questions, with higher scores indicating higher priority (range of scores possible 87-156). Thirteen unique research questions were submitted by stakeholders and achieved a range of scores from 87 to 139 points. The highest scoring research questions focused on: (i) the effectiveness of different health professionals at facilitating healthy lifestyle behaviours; (ii) the effect of health literacy on behaviour change; and (iii) cost-benefit analysis of healthy lifestyle promotion in primary health care. These priorities can be used to ensure future research projects directly align with the needs and preferences of research end-users.
authors.affiliation: Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Qld 4222, Australia.
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ball
authors.affiliation: Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Qld 4222, Australia.
authors.forename: Katelyn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Barnes
authors.affiliation: School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld 4072, Australia.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leveritt
authors.affiliation: Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Qld 4222, Australia.
authors.forename: Lana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.affiliation: Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Qld 4222, Australia.
authors.forename: Lauren T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: Communio Pty Ltd, North Sydney, NSW 2060, Australia.
authors.forename: Dianne
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ball
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic. 3000, Australia.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Patterson
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D015444:Exercise; D015438:Health Behavior; D057220:Health Literacy; D006282:Health Personnel; D006292:Health Priorities; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D052756:Nutritional Sciences; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012106:Research; D000073597:Stakeholder Participation