Global research priorities for interpersonal violence prevention : a modified Delphi study
Date
2017-1
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
World Health Organization -- WHO
Abstract
Objective To establish global research priorities for interpersonal violence prevention using a systematic approach.
Methods Research priorities were identified in a three-round process involving two surveys. In round 1, 95 global experts in violence
prevention proposed research questions to be ranked in round 2. Questions were collated and organized according to the four-step public
health approach to violence prevention. In round 2, 280 international experts ranked the importance of research in the four steps, and the
various substeps, of the public health approach. In round 3, 131 international experts ranked the importance of detailed research questions
on the public health step awarded the highest priority in round 2.
Findings In round 2, “developing, implementing and evaluating interventions” was the step of the public health approach awarded the
highest priority for four of the six types of violence considered (i.e. child maltreatment, intimate partner violence, armed violence and sexual
violence) but not for youth violence or elder abuse. In contrast, “scaling up interventions and evaluating their cost–effectiveness” was ranked
lowest for all types of violence. In round 3, research into “developing, implementing and evaluating interventions” that addressed parenting
or laws to regulate the use of firearms was awarded the highest priority. The key limitations of the study were response and attrition rates
among survey respondents. However, these rates were in line with similar priority-setting exercises.
Conclusion These findings suggest it is premature to scale up violence prevention interventions. Developing and evaluating smaller-scale
interventions should be the funding priority.
Description
CITATION: Mikton, C. R. et al. 2017. Global research priorities for interpersonal violence prevention: a modified Delphi study. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 95:36-48. doi:10.2471/BLT.16.172965.
The original publication is available at http://www.who.int/bulletin/en/
The original publication is available at http://www.who.int/bulletin/en/
Keywords
Intimate partner violence, Domestic violence
Citation
Mikton, C. R. et al. 2017. Global research priorities for interpersonal violence prevention: a modified Delphi study, Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 95:36-48. doi:10.2471/BLT.16.172965.