Commentary on Verdejo‐Garcia et al.: Cognitive training and remediation: identifying priorities for intervention research

Abstract

The perspectives of youth, adults and family with lived experience and key knowledge users such as health-care providers and decision-makers are critical to further inform these priorities for cognitive intervention research. Verdejo-Garcia and colleagues [1] outline a large-scale and collaborative effort to identify research priorities to address cognitive deficits in substance use disorders. This commentary outlines additional considerations to ensure that strategic and coordinated research priorities have a meaningful impact upon health systems. Put most clearly, the input of youth, adults and family with lived experience and key knowledge users such as health-care providers and decision-makers is critical for cognitive intervention research with impact. As long noted in health science research, the substantial gaps between research and practice require greater connection between academic and knowledge user groups. Increased connectedness between researchers and knowledge users facilitates knowledge mobilization [2] and research impact [3]. It is increasingly considered essential to engage knowledge users in all stages of research focusing upon issues relevant to them, to improve research quality and relevance [4]. Frameworks have been developed to support and