PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Caroline F Finch
AU  - Scott Talpey
AU  - Ashley Bradshaw
AU  - Torbjorn Soligard
AU  - Lars Engebretsen
TI  - Research priorities of international sporting federations and the IOC research centres
AID  - 10.1136/bmjsem-2016-000168
DP  - 2016 Oct 01
TA  - BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine
PG  - e000168
VI  - 2
IP  - 1
4099  - http://bmjopensem.bmj.com/content/2/1/e000168.short
4100  - http://bmjopensem.bmj.com/content/2/1/e000168.full
SO  - BMJ OPEN SP EX MED2016 Oct 01; 2
AB  - Background/aim To be fully effective, the prevention of injury in sport and promotion of athlete's health needs to be both targeted and underpinned by scientific evidence. This study aimed to identify the research priorities of International Sporting Federation (ISFs) compared to the current research focus of the International Olympic Committee Research Centres (IOC-RCs).Methods Online survey of ISF Medical Chairpersons (n=22, 69% response) and IOC-RC Directors (n=7, 78% response). Open-ended responses relating to injury/illness priorities and specific athlete targets were thematically coded. Ratings were given of the need for different research types according to the Translating Research into Injury Prevention Practice (TRIPP) Framework stages. Results are presented as the frequency of ISFs and IOC-RCs separately.Results Both ISFs and IOC-RFs prioritised research into concussion (27%, 72%, respectively), competitive overuse (23%, 43%) and youth (41%, 43%). The ISFs also ranked catastrophic injuries (14%), environmental factors (18%), elite athletes (18%) and Paralympic athletes (14%) as important. The IOC-RCs gave higher priority to preventing respiratory illness (43%), long-term health consequences of injury (43%) and recreational athletes (43%). There was a trend towards ISFs valuing TRIPP stage 5/6 research more highly and for the IOC-RCs to value TRIPP stage 1/2 research.Conclusions There are clear opportunities to better link the priorities and actions of the ISFs and IOC-RCs, to ensure more effective practice-policy-research partnerships for the benefit of all athletes. Setting a mutually-agreed research agenda will require further active engagement between researchers and broader ISF representatives.