Research priorities for shoulder surgery: results of the 2015 James Lind Alliance patient and clinician priority setting partnership

OBJECTIVE: To run a UK based James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnership for ‘Surgery for Common Shoulder Problems’. SETTING: This was a nationally funded and conducted process. It was organised from a musculoskeletal research centre and Biomedical Research Unit in Oxford. PARTICIPANTS: UK shoulder patients, carers and clinicians, involved in treating patients with shoulder pain and shoulder problems that might require surgery. INTERVENTIONS: These were national electronic and paper surveys capturing treatment uncertainties that are important to shoulder patients, carers and clinicians. OUTCOME MEASURES: The outcomes relevant to this study were the survey results and rankings. RESULTS: The process took 18 months to complete, with 371 participants contributing 404 in scope questions. The James Lind process then produced a final 10 research priorities and uncertainties that relate to the scope of ‘Surgery for Common Shoulder Problems’. CONCLUSIONS: The final top 10 UK research priorities have been produced and are now being disseminated to partner organisations and funders to guide funding of shoulder research for the next 5–10 years on topics that are important to patients, their carers and clinicians.