Translation of oral health research priorities into research topics in an equity-based priority setting exercise

Abstract Background In the context of research priority-setting, participants express their research priorities and ideas in various forms, ranging from narratives to explicit topics or questions. However, the transition from these expressions to well-structured research topics or questions is not a...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Sumanth Nagraj Kumbargere, Cath Quinn, Lynne Callaghan, Martha Paisi, Mona Nasser
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-01-01
Series:Health Research Policy and Systems
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-024-01261-0
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1832585317876498432
author Sumanth Nagraj Kumbargere
Cath Quinn
Lynne Callaghan
Martha Paisi
Mona Nasser
author_facet Sumanth Nagraj Kumbargere
Cath Quinn
Lynne Callaghan
Martha Paisi
Mona Nasser
author_sort Sumanth Nagraj Kumbargere
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background In the context of research priority-setting, participants express their research priorities and ideas in various forms, ranging from narratives to explicit topics or questions. However, the transition from these expressions to well-structured research topics or questions is not always straightforward. Challenges intensify when research priorities pertain to interventions or diagnostic accuracy, requiring the conversion of narratives into the Participant, Intervention, Comparator, Outcome (PICO) format. Scope and findings This project aimed to understand the challenges of engaging a diverse, multilingual population in setting oral health research priorities. While not a comprehensive priority-setting effort, we modified James Lind Alliance’s (JLA) methods and used thematic analysis to establish a list of priority research topics and questions. This was accomplished by conducting interviews with 40 community participants and 14 dentists from various ethnic backgrounds in Malaysia. The interview language depended on participant preferences, including English, Malay, and Mandarin, with translations handled collaboratively by bilingual research assistants. The process involved thematic analysis, discussion with a research committee, and necessary modifications. Our interpretations revealed distinct categories of participant statements: explicit, complicated, implicit and incomplete. In this study, we identified a three-step approach to translate research ideas that are presented either as explicit statements or as complicated narratives. Conclusions Translating community research priorities poses inherent challenges. Our model, although not exhaustive, provides a valuable tool to assist research priority-setting groups in translating these priorities into meaningful research topics and questions, facilitating the equitable inclusion of diverse perspectives. Future research priority-setting endeavours should document their translation processes, thus aiding researchers in understanding and tackling the intricacies of this task.
format Article
id doaj-art-d08c7e6a96e0468d95eeed6f3547b457
institution Kabale University
issn 1478-4505
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series Health Research Policy and Systems
spelling doaj-art-d08c7e6a96e0468d95eeed6f3547b4572025-01-26T12:58:10ZengBMCHealth Research Policy and Systems1478-45052025-01-0123111110.1186/s12961-024-01261-0Translation of oral health research priorities into research topics in an equity-based priority setting exerciseSumanth Nagraj Kumbargere0Cath Quinn1Lynne Callaghan2Martha Paisi3Mona Nasser4Peninsula Dental School, Faculty of Health, University of PlymouthPeninsula Medical School, Faculty of Health, University of PlymouthPeninsula Medical School, Faculty of Health, University of PlymouthSchool of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Health, University of PlymouthPlymouth Institute of Health and Care Research, Peninsula Dental School, Faculty of Health, University of PlymouthAbstract Background In the context of research priority-setting, participants express their research priorities and ideas in various forms, ranging from narratives to explicit topics or questions. However, the transition from these expressions to well-structured research topics or questions is not always straightforward. Challenges intensify when research priorities pertain to interventions or diagnostic accuracy, requiring the conversion of narratives into the Participant, Intervention, Comparator, Outcome (PICO) format. Scope and findings This project aimed to understand the challenges of engaging a diverse, multilingual population in setting oral health research priorities. While not a comprehensive priority-setting effort, we modified James Lind Alliance’s (JLA) methods and used thematic analysis to establish a list of priority research topics and questions. This was accomplished by conducting interviews with 40 community participants and 14 dentists from various ethnic backgrounds in Malaysia. The interview language depended on participant preferences, including English, Malay, and Mandarin, with translations handled collaboratively by bilingual research assistants. The process involved thematic analysis, discussion with a research committee, and necessary modifications. Our interpretations revealed distinct categories of participant statements: explicit, complicated, implicit and incomplete. In this study, we identified a three-step approach to translate research ideas that are presented either as explicit statements or as complicated narratives. Conclusions Translating community research priorities poses inherent challenges. Our model, although not exhaustive, provides a valuable tool to assist research priority-setting groups in translating these priorities into meaningful research topics and questions, facilitating the equitable inclusion of diverse perspectives. Future research priority-setting endeavours should document their translation processes, thus aiding researchers in understanding and tackling the intricacies of this task.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-024-01261-0TranslationResearch priority-settingResearch topicsResearch questions
spellingShingle Sumanth Nagraj Kumbargere
Cath Quinn
Lynne Callaghan
Martha Paisi
Mona Nasser
Translation of oral health research priorities into research topics in an equity-based priority setting exercise
Health Research Policy and Systems
Translation
Research priority-setting
Research topics
Research questions
title Translation of oral health research priorities into research topics in an equity-based priority setting exercise
title_full Translation of oral health research priorities into research topics in an equity-based priority setting exercise
title_fullStr Translation of oral health research priorities into research topics in an equity-based priority setting exercise
title_full_unstemmed Translation of oral health research priorities into research topics in an equity-based priority setting exercise
title_short Translation of oral health research priorities into research topics in an equity-based priority setting exercise
title_sort translation of oral health research priorities into research topics in an equity based priority setting exercise
topic Translation
Research priority-setting
Research topics
Research questions
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-024-01261-0
work_keys_str_mv AT sumanthnagrajkumbargere translationoforalhealthresearchprioritiesintoresearchtopicsinanequitybasedprioritysettingexercise
AT cathquinn translationoforalhealthresearchprioritiesintoresearchtopicsinanequitybasedprioritysettingexercise
AT lynnecallaghan translationoforalhealthresearchprioritiesintoresearchtopicsinanequitybasedprioritysettingexercise
AT marthapaisi translationoforalhealthresearchprioritiesintoresearchtopicsinanequitybasedprioritysettingexercise
AT monanasser translationoforalhealthresearchprioritiesintoresearchtopicsinanequitybasedprioritysettingexercise