Keele Research Repository

Involving research users in setting priorities for research is essential to ensure research outcomes are patient-centred and to maximise research value and impact. The Musculoskeletal (MSK) Disorders Research Advisory Group Versus Arthritis led a research priority setting exercise across MSK disorders. The Child Health and Nutrition Research Initiative (CHRNI) method of setting research priorities with a range of stakeholders was utilised, involving four stages and two surveys, to: 1) gather research uncertainties; 2) consolidate these; 3) score uncertainties against importance and impact; and 4) analyse scoring, for prioritisation. 213 and 285 people responded to the first and second surveys respectively, representing clinicians, researchers and people with MSK disorders. Key priorities included developing and testing new treatments, better treatment targeting , early diagnosis, prevention and better understanding and management of pain, with an emphasis on understanding underpinning mechanisms. We present a call to action to researchers and funders to target these priorities.