Priority topics for child and family health research in community-based paediatric health care according to caregivers and health care professionals

Abstract

Background Patient-oriented research (POR) aligns research with stakeholders’ priorities to improve health services and outcomes. Community-based health care settings offer an opportunity to engage stakeholders to determine the most important research topics to them. Our objectives were to identify unanswered questions that stakeholders had regarding any aspect of child and family health and prioritize their ‘top 10’ questions. Methods We followed the James Lind Alliance (JLA) priority setting methodology in partnership with stakeholders from the Northeast Community Health Centre (NECHC; Edmonton, Canada). We partnered with stakeholders (five caregivers, five health care professionals [HCPs]) to create a steering committee. Stakeholders were surveyed in two rounds (n = 125 per survey) to gather and rank-order unanswered questions regarding child and family health. A final priority setting workshop was held to finalize the ‘top 10’ list. Results Our initial survey generated 1,265 submissions from 100 caregivers and 25 HCPs. Out of scope submissions were removed and similar questions were combined to create a master list of questions (n = 389). Only unanswered questions advanced (n = 108) and were rank-ordered through a second survey by 100 caregivers and 25 HCPs. Stakeholders (n = 12) gathered for the final workshop to discuss and finalize the ‘top 10’ list. Priority questions included a range of topics, including mental health, screen time, COVID-19, and behaviour. Conclusion Our stakeholders prioritized diverse questions within our ‘top 10’ list; questions regarding mental health were the most common. Future patient-oriented research at this site will be guided by priorities that were most important to caregivers and HCPs.

The Impacts of COVID-19 Restrictions on Physical Activity in Children and Youth: A Systematic Review of Qualitative Evidence

“…There is value in understanding the meaning of, and allowing findings to emerge from, the experiences of individuals within greater social contexts. 15 In addition to recent reviews highlighting the need for qualitative research on this topic, 11,16 the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on the physical health of children and youth was identified recently as a top research priority by community-based caregivers and clinicians, 17 highlighting the relevance and responsiveness of this review. Accordingly, the objectives of this systematic review were to (1) synthesize qualitative evidence on the impact of the COVID-19 restrictions on the quantities, experiences, or perceptions of PA for children and youth ≤18 years of age, and (2) explore the factors perceived to influence these impacts.…”