Setting the research priorities for pregnancy scanning: a nationally coproduced vision with expectant women, the public and healthcare professionals

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Abstract
Objectives: Despite sonography studies being integral to routine high quality antenatal care, clinical research in this field is less commonly initiated or led by sonography professionals. It is also unclear what the research priorities are for service users within the UK’s sonography screening and diagnostic pathway. Methods: Here, we present a national priority setting partnership project, which included 2 surveys, coproduced with the oversight of a stakeholder priority setting partnerships (PSP) group, comprising service users and healthcare professionals, n = 12. Results: From the surveys, there were 348 individual responses and 616 validated research questions/uncertainties submitted. The top-ranked 26 indicative questions were discussed at a final joint stakeholder meeting (n = 17) and the top 10 research priorities for pregnancy scanning research were voted for and agreed by consensus. These fell into 6 main themes: (1) maternal and parental experience; (2) emerging technology; (3) screening, prediction, and diagnosis, (4) role of pregnancy MRI, (5) continued professional development, training and education, and (6) service delivery and workforce. Conclusions: We envisage this PSP will support teams of researchers and clinicians with important and achievable targets to move the field of pregnancy scanning forward. Advances in knowledge: This is the first coproduced antenatal scanning priority setting partnership highlighting real world issues and lines of enquiry as proposed by service users and health care professionals.
Funding Information
  • College of Radiographers and Industrial Partners (CoRIPs 197)
  • National Insitute for Health and Care Research (NIHR300555)

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