Perspective: Consideration of Values When Setting Priorities in Nutrition Research: Guidance for Transparency

Abstract

Nutrition research can guide interventions to tackle the burden of diet-related diseases. Setting priorities in nutrition research, however, requires the engagement of various stakeholders with diverse insights. Consideration of what matters most in research from a scientific, social, and ethical perspective is therefore not an automatic process. Systematic ways to explicitly define and consider relevant values are largely lacking. Here, we review existing nutrition research priority-setting exercises, analyze how values are reported, and provide guidance for transparent consideration of values while setting priorities in nutrition research. Of the 27 (n = 22 peer-reviewed manuscripts and 5 grey literature documents) studies reviewed, 40.7% used a combination of different methods, 59.3% described the represented stakeholders, and 49.1% reported on follow-up activities. All priority-setting exercises were led by research groups based in high-income countries. Via an iterative qualitative content analysis, reported values were identified (n = 22 manuscripts). Three clusters of values (i.e., those related to impact, feasibility, and accountability) were identified. These values were organized in a tool to help those involved in setting research priorities systematically consider and report values. The tool was finalized through an online consultation with 7 international stakeholders. The value-oriented tool for priority setting in nutrition research identifies and presents values that are already implicitly and explicitly represented in priority-setting exercises. It provides guidance to enable explicit deliberation on research priorities from an ethical perspective. In addition, it can serve as a reporting tool to document how value-laden choices are made during priority setting and help foster the accountability of stakeholders involved.

Uptake and impact of priority setting exercises in nutrition research publications

“…We have used the twenty-seven nutrition priority setting papers previously identified in a systematic mapping review (5). The mapping review was updated in 2019 and one extra priority setting exercise was added in 2018 (6) (see supplementary table 1).…”

“…A review of nutrition priority setting exercises in 2016 summarized the main characteristics of these exercises including the priority setting objective, who is represented and the number of experts represented, target audience, funding source and follow up of results (5). The review found that 27 priority setting exercises were conducted between 1994 and 2018 covering numerous nutritional problems (e.g.…”

Reducing waste in nutritional epidemiology: review and perspectives

“…There are ample initiatives that have documented priorities for nutrition research or proposed a formal nutrition research agenda. A recent scoping review identified twenty-seven reported nutrition research priority setting exercises in 2018 ( 18 ) . As an example, Haddad et al .…”

“…Moreover, values that underpin decisions for specific priorities are poorly reported in nutrition priority setting efforts. In accordance with the development of the Research Fairness Initiative to foster fair and responsible actions within global joint research and advances in health ( 38 ) , a tool was developed to ensure transparency and consideration of values when setting research priorities in nutrition ( 18 ) , which is required to be tested and monitored in the years to come.…”

“…There is an apparent need for stakeholders, such as funders and researchers to be transparent to ensure accountability and monitoring of commitments. Most of the research priority setting efforts are led by researchers in high-income countries ( 18 ) . Specific efforts are required to forge equitable relationships with researchers in low- and middle-income countries when setting nutrition research priorities.…”