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Partnering with consumers and practising clinicians to establish research priorities for public hospital maternity services

Roni Cole , Lauren Kearney, Bec Jenkinson, Imogen Kettle, Beng Ng, Leonie Callaway, Rachael Nugent

Abstract

Objective – An innovative approach by two Queensland Health Services was taken to establish a shared maternity services’ research agenda through partnering with consumers and clinicians. The objective was to set the ‘top five’ research priorities to ensure the future direction of maternity research was relevant to end-user and organisational needs. Design, setting and participants – A modified James Lind Alliance (JLA) methodology was applied between August 2022 and February 2023 across two south-east Queensland Health Services which included five participating maternity units and involved partnership with consumers, health care professionals and clinician researchers. The reporting guideline for priority setting of health research (REPRISE) was followed. Results – There were 192 respondents to the initial harvesting survey, generating 461 research suggestions. These were aggregated into 122 unique questions and further summarised into a list of 44 research questions. The 161 interim prioritisation survey respondents short-listed 27 questions ready for ranking at a final consensus workshop. The top five question themes were: 1) maternity care experience, engagement, and outcomes of priority populations; 2) increasing spontaneous vaginal birth; 3) experiences and perceptions of woman/person-centred care; 4) best practice care during the ‘fourth’ trimester; and 5) antibiotic use during labour and birth. Conclusion – Applying an adapted JLA framework can successfully shape and establish a research agenda within Australian health services, through partnership with consumers and practicing clinicians. A transparent process, that strengthens the legitimacy and credibility of research agendas and forms a replicable framework for other settings.

AH23222  Accepted 07 April 2024

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