Article type
Year
Abstract
Background: Historically, the Cochrane Breast Cancer Group typically registered new topics and updated reviews based on feedback from its international editorial board and funders. In 2019, to comply with new guidance from Cochrane and to continue to meet the needs of its readers, the Breast Cancer Group conducted a formal priority-setting exercise for new and existing topics. As the methods for priority-setting exercises are diverse, determining and executing the right approach was not necessarily a straightforward process.
Objectives: To develop and apply an approach for conducting a priority-setting exercise for Cochrane breast cancer review topics.
Methods: An approach was developed that could be implemented with limited resources, would comply with Cochrane’s mandatory standards for priority setting, would facilitate engagement from a wide group of individuals and organisations within the breast cancer community and would allow decisive feedback on the topics that the Cochrane Breast Cancer Group should focus on in 2020.
Results: A hybrid approach involving Cochrane’s Updating Classification System, citation metrics, conference abstracts and editorial board feedback was used to develop a preliminary list of 25 breast cancer review topics. These 25 topics were circulated to the breast cancer community in the form of a priority-setting survey and respondents were asked to rank their top 10 topics. This process resulted in nearly 200 responses, 100 complete responses and a clear ranking of breast cancer topics for development or updating. Underlying this process, there were multiple decision points (i.e. the who, what and how) to consider before starting, during and after the priority-setting exercise. The time required for completing this exercise was longer than expected, new tools/resources were found to assist with the process, and warning signs noted if the same process would be repeated.
Conclusions: The priority-setting approach led to the development of a clear set of priority topics for the Cochrane Breast Cancer Group. Careful consideration and clarity of the intended outcome from this exercise is needed to assist with planning the right approach.
Patient or healthcare consumer involvement: Participants of the healthcare system were involved in providing feedback on the approach taken (as part of their role on the editorial board) and responding to the priority-setting survey. The Cochrane Breast Cancer Group is very grateful for the continued support it receives from healthcare consumers during topic selection, the peer-review process and dissemination activities. This project will help to ensure the Group's work continues to be relevant and useful to patients and consumers.
Objectives: To develop and apply an approach for conducting a priority-setting exercise for Cochrane breast cancer review topics.
Methods: An approach was developed that could be implemented with limited resources, would comply with Cochrane’s mandatory standards for priority setting, would facilitate engagement from a wide group of individuals and organisations within the breast cancer community and would allow decisive feedback on the topics that the Cochrane Breast Cancer Group should focus on in 2020.
Results: A hybrid approach involving Cochrane’s Updating Classification System, citation metrics, conference abstracts and editorial board feedback was used to develop a preliminary list of 25 breast cancer review topics. These 25 topics were circulated to the breast cancer community in the form of a priority-setting survey and respondents were asked to rank their top 10 topics. This process resulted in nearly 200 responses, 100 complete responses and a clear ranking of breast cancer topics for development or updating. Underlying this process, there were multiple decision points (i.e. the who, what and how) to consider before starting, during and after the priority-setting exercise. The time required for completing this exercise was longer than expected, new tools/resources were found to assist with the process, and warning signs noted if the same process would be repeated.
Conclusions: The priority-setting approach led to the development of a clear set of priority topics for the Cochrane Breast Cancer Group. Careful consideration and clarity of the intended outcome from this exercise is needed to assist with planning the right approach.
Patient or healthcare consumer involvement: Participants of the healthcare system were involved in providing feedback on the approach taken (as part of their role on the editorial board) and responding to the priority-setting survey. The Cochrane Breast Cancer Group is very grateful for the continued support it receives from healthcare consumers during topic selection, the peer-review process and dissemination activities. This project will help to ensure the Group's work continues to be relevant and useful to patients and consumers.