title: Global research priorities for interpersonal violence prevention: a modified Delphi study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To establish global research priorities for interpersonal violence prevention using a systematic approach.
  
  
  METHODS
  Research priorities were identified in a three-round process involving two surveys. In round 1, 95 global experts in violence prevention proposed research questions to be ranked in round 2. Questions were collated and organized according to the four-step public health approach to violence prevention. In round 2, 280 international experts ranked the importance of research in the four steps, and the various substeps, of the public health approach. In round 3, 131 international experts ranked the importance of detailed research questions on the public health step awarded the highest priority in round 2.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In round 2, "developing, implementing and evaluating interventions" was the step of the public health approach awarded the highest priority for four of the six types of violence considered (i.e. child maltreatment, intimate partner violence, armed violence and sexual violence) but not for youth violence or elder abuse. In contrast, "scaling up interventions and evaluating their cost-effectiveness" was ranked lowest for all types of violence. In round 3, research into "developing, implementing and evaluating interventions" that addressed parenting or laws to regulate the use of firearms was awarded the highest priority. The key limitations of the study were response and attrition rates among survey respondents. However, these rates were in line with similar priority-setting exercises.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest it is premature to scale up violence prevention interventions. Developing and evaluating smaller-scale interventions should be the funding priority.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Social Sciences, University of the West of England, Bristol Frenchay Campus, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol, BS16 1QY, England .
authors.forename: Christopher R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Mikton
authors.affiliation: McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada .
authors.forename: Masako
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.affiliation: Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa .
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tomlinson
authors.affiliation: McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada .
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Streiner
authors.affiliation: Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, Canada .
authors.forename: Lil
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tonmyr
authors.affiliation: Yale University, New Haven, United States of America (USA).
authors.forename: Bandy X
authors.initials: BX
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Monash University, Melbourne, Australia .
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.affiliation: University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada .
authors.forename: Kathy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hegadoren
authors.affiliation: Center for Global Nonkilling, Honolulu, USA .
authors.forename: Joam Evans
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Pim
authors.affiliation: Danish Institute against Torture, Copenhagen, Denmark .
authors.forename: Shr-Jie Sharlenna
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada .
authors.forename: Harriet L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: MacMillan
mesh_terms: D003697:Delphi Technique; D017579:Domestic Violence / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D014943:Global Health; D006292:Health Priorities / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011635:Public Health Administration; D012106:Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000517:prevention & control; D014754:Violence / Q000517:prevention & control*