Preconception Health Research Priorities for Adolescents and Young Adults in Australia
9 affiliations
- 1School of Public Health, College of Health, Adelaide University Adelaide South Australia Australia
- 2Robinson Research Institute, Adelaide University Adelaide South Australia Australia
- 3Curtin School of Population Health, Curtin University Perth Western Australia Australia
- 4Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences Monash University Melbourne Victoria Australia
- 5Monash Women's, Monash Health Melbourne Victoria Australia
- 6Eastern Health Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences Monash University Melbourne Victoria Australia
- 7Department of General Practice, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Nursing and Health Sciences Monash University Melbourne Victoria Australia
- 8College of Medicine and Public Health Flinders University Adelaide South Australia Australia
- 9College of Health Sciences, Faculty of Nursing, Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta Canada
Abstract
Background: Guidelines on pre‐pregnancy counselling are primarily clinical, and although recommendations and policy documents on preconception care exist in Australia, they place little or no emphasis on the preconception health of adolescents and young adults.
Objective: To identify and prioritise unanswered questions and evidence uncertainties concerning preconception health needs of adolescents and young adults residing in Australia.
Design: Research priority exercise.
Setting and Participants: Participants included young interest‐holders (18–24 years) and professional interest‐holders from the academic, healthcare, policy, community and government sectors residing in Australia.
Methods: James Lind Alliance (JLA) methodology was followed to identify research priorities for preconception health of adolescents and young adults. The process was led by a multidisciplinary steering committee comprising young interest‐holders and professional interest‐holders (including academics and clinicians). A rapid literature review was conducted, from which 80 research questions were developed across 10 domains, which were refined through consultation and prioritised via two rounds of online surveys on Qualtrics using a 9‐point Likert scale.
Results: The participants included 14 young interest‐holders in each survey round, with 22 professional interest‐holders in the first round and 30 in the second. Participants from across Australia participated in the survey, but most were from South Australia. In the first survey round, 28 questions across seven domains were prioritised by both professional and young interest‐holders. This was followed by a reprioritisation exercise, resulting in the final top 10 research questions spanning five domains. The highest‐priority research questions identified by the interest‐holders concentrated in the domains of violence and mental health; early intervention and prevention; smoking, tobacco, alcohol, and substance use; access to preconception care and the healthcare system; and priority populations.
Conclusion: The study identified the top 10 priority research questions informed by professional and young interest‐holders. It promotes new research and collaboration while offering guidance on future research investments and on designing preconception interventions for adolescents and young adults in Australia. Turning these priorities into research could improve the health outcomes for adolescents and their future generations.
Related
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BibTeX
@article{padhani2026preconception,
title = {{Preconception Health Research Priorities for Adolescents and Young Adults in Australia}},
author = {Zahra Ali Padhani and Jodie C. Avery and Gizachew A. Tessema and Keeth L. B. Mayakaduwage and Jacqueline A. Boyle and Danielle Mazza and Sara Ataie and Salima Meherali and Zohra S. Lassi},
journal = {Health Expectations : An International Journal of Public Participation in Health Care and Health Policy},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1111/hex.70950},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.70950},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Preconception Health Research Priorities for Adolescents and Young Adults in Australia
AU - Zahra Ali Padhani
AU - Jodie C. Avery
AU - Gizachew A. Tessema
AU - Keeth L. B. Mayakaduwage
AU - Jacqueline A. Boyle
AU - Danielle Mazza
AU - Sara Ataie
AU - Salima Meherali
AU - Zohra S. Lassi
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/28
JO - Health Expectations : An International Journal of Public Participation in Health Care and Health Policy
DO - 10.1111/hex.70950
UR - https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.70950
AB - Background: Guidelines on pre‐pregnancy counselling are primarily clinical, and although recommendations and policy documents on preconception care exist in Australia, they place little or no emphasis on the preconception health of adolescents and young adults. Objective: To identify and prioritise unanswered questions and evidence uncertainties concerning preconception health needs of adolescents and young adults residing in Australia. Design: Research priority exercise. Setting and Participants: Participants included young interest‐holders (18–24 years) and professional interest‐holders from the academic, healthcare, policy, community and government sectors residing in Australia. Methods: James Lind Alliance (JLA) methodology was followed to identify research priorities for preconception health of adolescents and young adults. The process was led by a multidisciplinary steering committee comprising young interest‐holders and professional interest‐holders (including academics and clinicians). A rapid literature review was conducted, from which 80 research questions were developed across 10 domains, which were refined through consultation and prioritised via two rounds of online surveys on Qualtrics using a 9‐point Likert scale. Results: The participants included 14 young interest‐holders in each survey round, with 22 professional interest‐holders in the first round and 30 in the second. Participants from across Australia participated in the survey, but most were from South Australia. In the first survey round, 28 questions across seven domains were prioritised by both professional and young interest‐holders. This was followed by a reprioritisation exercise, resulting in the final top 10 research questions spanning five domains. The highest‐priority research questions identified by the interest‐holders concentrated in the domains of violence and mental health; early intervention and prevention; smoking, tobacco, alcohol, and substance use; access to preconception care and the healthcare system; and priority populations. Conclusion: The study identified the top 10 priority research questions informed by professional and young interest‐holders. It promotes new research and collaboration while offering guidance on future research investments and on designing preconception interventions for adolescents and young adults in Australia. Turning these priorities into research could improve the health outcomes for adolescents and their future generations.
SN - 1369-6513
SN - 1369-7625
ER -