Post pandemic research priorities: A consensus statement from the HL-PIVOT

Abstract

We have been amid unhealthy living and related chronic disease pandemics for several decades. These longstanding crises have troublingly synergized with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The need to establish research priorities in response to COVID-19 can be used to address broad health and wellbeing, social and economic impacts for the future is emerging. Accordingly, this paper sets out a series of research priorities that could inform interdisciplinary collaboration between clinical sciences, public health, business, technology, economics, healthcare providers, and the exercise science/sports medicine communities, among others. A five-step methodology was used to generate and evaluate the research priorities with a focus on broad health and well-being impacts. The methodology was deployed by an international and interdisciplinary team from the Healthy Living for Pandemic Event Protection (HL- PIVOT) network. This team were all engaged in responding to the Pandemic either on the 'front-line' and/or in leadership positions ensuring the currency and authenticity of the process. Eight research priorities were identified clustered into two groups: i) Societal & Environmental, and ii) Clinical. Our eight research priorities are presented with insight from previously published research priorities from other groups.

Keywords: COVID-19; Collaboration exercise medicine; Health and wellbeing; Pandemic legacy; Prevention; Priorities; Research.

Fig. 1

The five step methodology adopted to reach consensus in the development of subsequent research priorities.

Fig. 2

A word cloud developed using author submissions from the initial stages of the methodology.

Fig. 3

A sedond word cloud developed following refinement of the research questions and priority areas.

Fig. 4

Ranking of importance by HL-Pivot netowrk members between the two theme areas of societal and environmental and clinical research priorities.