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Frameworks to identify research gaps, frame research needs, and derive research priorities from evidence syntheses : a scoping review

Dewidar, Omar ; Elganga, Mouad ; Ringsten, Martin LU orcid ; Langendam, Miranda ; Saif-Ur-Rahman, K. M. ; Bala, Malgorzata M. ; Arienti, Chiara ; Bognanni, Antonio ; Darzi, Andrea J. and Jemioło, Paweł , et al. (2026) In Journal of Clinical Epidemiology 197.
Abstract

Objectives To identify and describe frameworks for systematically identifying research gaps from evidence syntheses, framing research needs, and establishing priorities, with emphasis on their use of GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) certainty of evidence (CoE) domains and evidence-to-decision (EtD) criteria. Study Design and Setting We conducted a scoping review following JBI guidance, searching MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Web of Science on July 14, 2025, for publications from 2011 onward. Eligible documents described approaches for identifying research gaps or formulating research needs from systematic reviews or other evidence syntheses, not limited to GRADE. Data were extracted on framework... (More)

Objectives To identify and describe frameworks for systematically identifying research gaps from evidence syntheses, framing research needs, and establishing priorities, with emphasis on their use of GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) certainty of evidence (CoE) domains and evidence-to-decision (EtD) criteria. Study Design and Setting We conducted a scoping review following JBI guidance, searching MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Web of Science on July 14, 2025, for publications from 2011 onward. Eligible documents described approaches for identifying research gaps or formulating research needs from systematic reviews or other evidence syntheses, not limited to GRADE. Data were extracted on framework structure, methods for gap identification, use of GRADE CoE to explore nature of the gaps, GRADE EtD to frame needs, and strategies for prioritization. Results Fourteen frameworks from 17 publications were identified. Five frameworks used the Population, Interventions, Comparisons and Outcomes (PICO) approach to characterize research gaps. Six frameworks provided explicit methods to investigate the nature of the gaps, typically through GRADE CoE assessment. None fully integrated the GRADE EtD framework, although some considered selected EtD criteria when framing research needs. Four included methods for prioritizing needs. Conclusion Frameworks to identify research gaps and formulate needs from evidence syntheses are heterogeneous and often lack explicit methods for investigating the nature of the gaps or prioritizing research. This review will inform guidance on how to use GRADE to systematically and transparently inform future research.

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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Evidence synthesis, Evidence-based medicine, GRADE, Health technology assessment, Research gaps, Research recommendations, Systematic reviews
in
Journal of Clinical Epidemiology
volume
197
article number
112342
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • pmid:42203174
  • scopus:105042517018
ISSN
0895-4356
DOI
10.1016/j.jclinepi.2026.112342
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
dd6d64fd-fb3e-48ac-b068-94d5363711e7
date added to LUP
2026-06-29 14:38:52
date last changed
2026-07-14 21:25:59
@article{dd6d64fd-fb3e-48ac-b068-94d5363711e7,
  abstract     = {{<p>Objectives To identify and describe frameworks for systematically identifying research gaps from evidence syntheses, framing research needs, and establishing priorities, with emphasis on their use of GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) certainty of evidence (CoE) domains and evidence-to-decision (EtD) criteria. Study Design and Setting We conducted a scoping review following JBI guidance, searching MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Web of Science on July 14, 2025, for publications from 2011 onward. Eligible documents described approaches for identifying research gaps or formulating research needs from systematic reviews or other evidence syntheses, not limited to GRADE. Data were extracted on framework structure, methods for gap identification, use of GRADE CoE to explore nature of the gaps, GRADE EtD to frame needs, and strategies for prioritization. Results Fourteen frameworks from 17 publications were identified. Five frameworks used the Population, Interventions, Comparisons and Outcomes (PICO) approach to characterize research gaps. Six frameworks provided explicit methods to investigate the nature of the gaps, typically through GRADE CoE assessment. None fully integrated the GRADE EtD framework, although some considered selected EtD criteria when framing research needs. Four included methods for prioritizing needs. Conclusion Frameworks to identify research gaps and formulate needs from evidence syntheses are heterogeneous and often lack explicit methods for investigating the nature of the gaps or prioritizing research. This review will inform guidance on how to use GRADE to systematically and transparently inform future research.</p>}},
  author       = {{Dewidar, Omar and Elganga, Mouad and Ringsten, Martin and Langendam, Miranda and Saif-Ur-Rahman, K. M. and Bala, Malgorzata M. and Arienti, Chiara and Bognanni, Antonio and Darzi, Andrea J. and Jemioło, Paweł and Krawczyk, Sebastian and Lazzarini, Stefano G. and Marques-Cruz, Manuel and Meerpohl, Joerg J. and Mollel, Getrud J. and Parmelli, Elena and Robinson, Karen A. and Sousa-Pinto, Bernardo and Siemens, Waldemar and Vieira, Rafael José and White, Samuel J. and Marcucci, Maura and Schünemann, Holger J.}},
  issn         = {{0895-4356}},
  keywords     = {{Evidence synthesis; Evidence-based medicine; GRADE; Health technology assessment; Research gaps; Research recommendations; Systematic reviews}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Journal of Clinical Epidemiology}},
  title        = {{Frameworks to identify research gaps, frame research needs, and derive research priorities from evidence syntheses : a scoping review}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinepi.2026.112342}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.jclinepi.2026.112342}},
  volume       = {{197}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}