Susan Weeks, associate professor; associate dean for external affairs, Harris College; and director of the Center for Evidence Based Practice and Research: A Collaborating Center of the Joanna Briggs Institute, participated in a stakeholder engagement workshop Dec. 4 hosted by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute in Washington, D.C. The workshop, “What Should PCORI Study? A Call for Topics from Patients and Stakeholders, gathered recommendations from a diverse group of health care stakeholders on specific research topics and feedback on PCORI’s plans for stakeholder engagement.

Weeks joined patients and health care leaders from across the United States to advise PCORI on the following:

• Comparative effectiveness research topics PCORI should study
• Making research more meaningful to health care stakeholders
• Examples of patient-focused care improvement
• Best practices for patient and stakeholder engagement
• Promising methods for dissemination of clinical research

The workshop was one of three PCORI engagement workshops this fall to obtain input from patients, stakeholders and research methodology experts on PCORI’s process for generating and selecting specific research topics. Once implemented, the process will lead to topic-specific funding announcements that correspond to the priorities outlined in PCORI’s National Priorities for Research and Research Agenda and complement PCORI’s broad Funding Announcements.