Shoulder Osteoarthritis Research (SOAR) Priority Setting Partnership (PSP)

The Shoulder Osteoarthritis Research Priority Setting Partnership (SOAR PSP) aims to identify and prioritise key research questions about shoulder osteoarthritis from the perspectives of patients, carers, and clinicians. Guided by the James Lind Alliance, these groups will collaboratively identify and rank the ‘Top 10’ priorities for future shoulder osteoarthritis research.

Shoulder osteoarthritis (OA) is a disabling condition, with an increasing burden on individuals, families, and healthcare systems. For example, in Australia, shoulder joint replacement surgeries for OA have more than doubled between 2009 and 2019. Despite this, little shoulder osteoarthritis research exists limiting the evidence available to guide best care. To address this gap, there is a pressing need to identify and prioritise key areas for future research as informed by the people living with shoulder OA, their carers, and clinicians.

The Shoulder Osteoarthritis Research (SOAR) Priority Setting Partnership (PSP) is an Australia-New Zealand wide initiative. This partnership will apply the James Lind Alliance (JLA) methodology to systematically identify key, unanswered questions about shoulder OA and rank research priorities. The study involves an initial survey to identify the community’s questions, followed by a structured prioritisation process, ending in a final workshop where community members will agree on the ‘Top 10’ research priorities. We will then share these priorities with funding bodies, policymakers, and researchers to ensure future research actively reflects the needs of those affected by shoulder OA.