Establishing Research Priorities in a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Data-driven and Stakeholder-informed Approach

Abstract

Objectives: Setting research priorities is essential for optimizing healthcare resource allocation and addressing critical health challenges. We sought to identify data-driven clinical and health service research priorities for the Royal Hospital, Muscat, Oman. Methods: We used a multi-step approach combined with retrospective electronic health record (EHR) analysis with structured and unstructured stakeholder consultations. Findings were validated using the Delphi method through online surveys and face-to-face discussions with 10 key hospital decision-makers. Results: Analysis of EHR data from 652?%567 inpatient admissions over 14 years identified pregnancy-related conditions (25.0%) as the leading cause of hospitalization, followed by circulatory system disease (10.4%) and cancers (8.6%), with breast and colon cancers being the most prevalent. Septicemia, pneumonia, and myocardial infarction were the leading causes of death. Stakeholder consultations emphasized patient-centered care, telemedicine, operational efficiency, and artificial intelligence-driven diagnostics as key health service research priorities. Delphi validation confirmed high relevance (scoring 4?"5 on a 5-point scale), although feasibility concerns were noted, particularly regarding resource allocation and information technology infrastructure. Conclusions: Our study established research priorities for the Royal Hospital by integrating clinical data analysis with stakeholder engagement to align research efforts with Oman?(tm)s Health Vision 2050. Effective implementation will require a hospital-wide research steering committee to oversee execution, integrate research themes into funding strategies, and enhance data-driven decision-making through artificial intelligence and EHR dashboards. Sustaining momentum necessitates annual reviews with leadership, cross-department collaboration, and capacity-building programs. For long-term sustainability, dedicated hospital funding and public-private partnerships should be explored.

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