Defining research priorities for pancreatic cancer in Australia: results of a consensus development process

Abstract

IntroductionPancreatic cancer (PC) is the sixth leading cause of cancer death in Australia and the fourth in the United States, yet research in PC is lagging behind that in other cancers associated with a high disease burden. In the absence of agreed processes to reliably identify research areas which can deliver significant advances in PC research, the Cancer Council NSW established a strategic partnership with the NSW Pancreatic Cancer Network to define critical research issues and opportunities that could accelerate progress in this field in Australia.Materials and methodsThe process consisted of five distinct stages: a literature review on recent progress in PC research, semi-structured expert interviews, a Delphi process, consumer focus groups, and a nominal group process. Information collected at each step informed the development of subsequent stages.ResultsThe results from these steps were refined by the nominal group into a set of seven specific pancreatic cancer research goals. The goals were disseminated and led to a new funding scheme for key PC research priorities.DiscussionThis prioritisation exercise provided a much needed “road map” for research prioritisation in PC and served as a checklist to researchers applying for PC research grants to confirm how their research can contribute towards accelerating progress in PC research in Australia.

Nominal group technique: An effective method for obtaining group consensus

“…For example Robotin et al 21 used NGT to define seven topics for pancreatic cancer research priorities and in a similar study Redman et al 22 used NGT to determine research priorities for the NHMRC National Breast Cancer Centre. Another Australian study 23 used NGT to canvass insights from clinicians as part of a mixed methods investigation of nursing documentation.…”

Research priorities in surgical simulation for the 21st century

“…Achieving consensus in such a manner has been used in various health research applications, such as determining the appropriateness and necessity of procedures, 14, 15 forecasting health technologies, 16 and developing health research agendas. 8, 9, 11, 12, 17 …”

“…In contrast, the systematic development of research agendas has been used frequently to help guide research by various disciplines including intensive care, 8 cancer research, 9 and medical education. 10 Within surgery, national societies such as the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons and the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) have also achieved consensus to develop research agendas in their respective fields.…”

The Delphi process: a solution for reviewing novel grant applications

“…Details about the research prioritization process with experts in the field, including consumers, have recently been published in the peer reviewed literature. 20 Innovator grants in pancreatic cancer aim to support innovative research of high quality and potential, but unlikely to be considered by traditional funding bodies (due to unusual research questions or design, and the investigators having a limited research track record or a lack of experience in pancreatic cancer research).…”