PCORI Advisory Panels Spring Meeting Recap

PCORI’s six multi-stakeholder advisory panels bring voices from across the healthcare community into our work. The panels all met in Alexandria, Virginia, from April 28 to May 1. This was the first meeting for our two new panels (Advisory Panels on Rare Disease and on Clinical Trials), and the fourth meeting for the others, which first convened in spring 2013. At the recent meetings, three of the groups prioritized potential topics for future PCORI funding announcements (PFAs).

The panels also learned how topics that they ranked at previous meetings had been included in recent PFAs. And, for the first time in addition to their individual meetings, two panels held a joint session, which fostered an exchange of ideas about portfolio management, engagement of patients and other healthcare stakeholders in research, and dissemination and implementation of research findings. Following is a brief synopsis of four panel meetings; the meetings of the two new panels are described in another blog post.

Addressing Disparities

This panel prioritized four new comparative effectiveness research topics for consideration for research funding. “Interventions to Reduce Initiation of Tobacco Use and Promote Tobacco Cessation” ranked highest. The topic the panel had ranked highest at their previous meeting, “Integration of Mental and Behavioral Health Services into Primary Care Settings to Address Disparities and Advance Equity,” was included as a priority topic in our recent PFA for Pragmatic Clinical Studies and Large Simple Trials to Evaluate Patient-Centered Outcomes. The panel also met with the Advisory Panel on Patient Engagement (see below).

Assessment of Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment Options

At the meeting, the panelists prioritized 16 new comparative effectiveness research topics, with “Biologics for Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease” ranking highest. The panel also discussed six topics being considered for a study using PCORnet, the National Patient-Centered Clinical Research Network, which PCORI is developing. We’re making plans for PCORnet to support a pilot interventional clinical trial to generate evidence that is directly meaningful to patients, clinicians, and health systems. Of the six potential topics, the panel gave top ranking to “Optimal Maintenance Aspirin Dose for Patients with Coronary Artery Disease.” Six topics that the panel had ranked highly at previous meetings were also included in our recent Pragmatic Clinical Studies PFA. This meeting included the panel’s newest member, Linda McNamara, RN, MBA, who is a healthcare consultant and patient advocate.

Improving Healthcare Systems

This panel ranked nine topics that had been reviewed and given high priority during its January 2014 meeting. The highest ranking topic was “Patient Engagement in Quality Improvement Projects.” Panelists also discussed roles of the panel and provided feedback regarding the IHS portfolio. Members of our Engagement staff presented information on engagement in research and the PCORI Ambassador Program. The meeting included the panel’s newest member, Michael Dueñas, OD, chief public health officer of the American Optometric Association.

Patient Engagement

The panel reviewed the patient-centeredness of PCORI programs and initiatives, including the Ambassador Program, the Pipeline to Proposal Awards, the Matchmaking and Partner Lists, and PCORnet. The panel’s Evaluation Subcommittee presented its recommendations on a draft of PCORI’s Evaluation Framework. Its top recommendation was that the evaluation plan should link more directly to the PCORI theme of “research done differently.” The panel’s Compensation Subcommittee presented a draft statement on "Compensation Fairness for Patients, Caregivers, and Patient/Caregiver Organizations Engaged in PCOR," and the panelists made suggestions. The panel also discussed additional topics, including privacy issues and PCORI’s definition of patient. In addition, this panel met with the Advisory Panel on Addressing Diversity (see below).

Joint Session of the Advisory Panels on Patient Engagement and on Addressing Disparities

During this session, PCORI’s Addressing Disparities program staff described an analysis and evaluation tool the program is developing to better understand its portfolio and guide its funding priorities. Engagement staff presented the PCORI Ambassador Program, as well as the Patient and Family Engagement Rubric. The panels together discussed the draft Dissemination and Implementation Action Plan. This session also revealed areas where the two panels’ scope of work and interests converge.

Next Steps

Our advisory panels will meet again in the fall to continue their work helping us to prioritize research topics and guiding our patient-engagement efforts. Thank you for your continued interest in PCORI’s efforts to improve outcomes for all patients.