Show me the money! An analysis of underserved stakeholders' funding priorities in Patient Centered Outcomes Research domains

Abstract

Aim: Develop an accessible exercise to engage underserved populations about research funding priorities; analyze the criteria they use to prioritize research; contrast these criteria to those currently used by Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI).

Materials & methods: Academic and community partners collaborated to develop an Ipad exercise to facilitate group deliberation about PCOR funding priorities. 16 groups (n = 183) of underserved individuals in both urban and rural areas participated. Recordings were qualitatively analyzed for prioritization criteria.

Results: Analysis yielded ten codes, many of which were similar to PCORI criteria, but all of which challenged or illuminated these criteria.

Conclusion: Directly involving underserved populations in determining funding criteria is both feasible and important, and can better fulfill PCORI's goal of incorporating patient priorities.

Keywords: decision-making; minority groups; patient-centered outcomes research; public deliberation; research priorities; resource allocation; underserved populations.