“Our knowledge, your support”: Exploring the research priorities of adults who stutter and perceived supports to enable future research partnerships

Background Stuttering research tends to be researcher-led and there is minimal engagement with adults who stutter to ascertain their research priorities. Research underpinned by the priorities of adults who stutter and which reflects constructs of research engagement has the potential to enhance the translation of research into clinical practice, improve intervention outcomes and empower those who stutter to have a voice in influencing future research directions. Purpose This study aimed to identify: the research priorities of adults who stutter; and the actions that researchers need to undertake in order to support the active participation of adults who stutter in future research activities. This exploratory study represents the first step in executing a larger-scale study on priority setting and partnership between researchers and adults who stutter. Method Recruitment was achieved through study advertisement by stuttering support groups and university-based research centres in Ireland, the UK and Canada, and using social media platforms. A modified online World Café methodology was employed where adults who stutter participated in rounds of discussions. Analysis of participants’ data was completed using qualitative content analysis and an iterative member-checking process. Results Eleven adults who stutter (male: n = 7; female: n = 4) participated in the World Café. Seven themes relating to the participants’ research priorities, and three themes relating to actions that researchers can take to support future partnerships with people who stutter were identified . Conclusion Findings of this exploratory study will inform the methodology of a larger study on research priority setting and partnership between researchers and adults who stutter.