A rapid priority setting exercise combining existing, emergent evidence with stakeholder knowledge identified broad topic uncertainties

The project aimed to rapidly identify priority topic uncertainties as a first step to identify future systematic review questions of pertinence to key international faecal incontinence (FI) stakeholders (patients, carers, healthcare professionals, policy makers and voluntary, community or social enterprise representatives). The paper aim is to share our methods, experience and learning with other groups planning to deliver a rapid priority setting exercise.An evidence gap map incorporated three evidence streams: emerging evidence identified through horizon scanning; existing evidence identified through systematic searches of bibliographic databases; and FI stakeholder insights collected through an international survey. The evidence gap map was presented during an online workshop with stakeholders, where they shared their expertise to expand, refine and rank topic uncertainties using ideation techniques, focus group discussions, consensus techniques and online polling.The multi-step methods used to deliver this priority-setting exercise resulted in identification of broad priority topic uncertainties. The methods appear to have high acceptability and engagement with participants but await full evaluation.This project successfully followed robust methodology, building upon frameworks from published priority setting and evidence gap mapping projects whilst incorporating strong patient and public involvement components.