Identifying Social factors that Stratify Health Opportunities and Outcomes (ISSHOOs) in pain research: consensus recommendations for the collection and reporting of equity-relevant data

Emma L Karran; Aidan G Cashin; Alessandro Chiarotto; ISSHOOs Group; Saurab Sharma; Trevor Barker; Mark A Boyd; Lara J Maxwell; Vina Mohabir; Jennifer Petkovic; Peter Tugwell; G Lorimer Moseley

doi:10.1016/j.eclinm.2025.103586

Identifying Social factors that Stratify Health Opportunities and Outcomes (ISSHOOs) in pain research: consensus recommendations for the collection and reporting of equity-relevant data

Emma L Karran
, Aidan G Cashin
, Alessandro Chiarotto
, ISSHOOs Group
, Saurab Sharma
, Trevor Barker
, Mark A Boyd
, Lara J Maxwell
, Vina Mohabir
, Jennifer Petkovic
, Peter Tugwell
, G Lorimer Moseley

General Practice

The 'Identifying Social Factors that Stratify Health Opportunities and Outcomes' (ISSHOOS) Collaboration Core Research Group

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The aspiration to improve health equity is fundamental to scholarly focus and action in public health, and highly relevant to addressing the global burden of pain-the leading contributor to disability worldwide. There is potential for advancement towards health equity to be facilitated by greater access to data that identifies the role of socio-demographic factors in pain and health outcomes.

METHODS: The 'Identifying Social factors that Stratify Health Opportunities and Outcomes (ISSHOOs) in Pain Research' project was a multi-stage process that aimed to reach consensus on the most important equity-relevant items to include in all human adult pain research. Conducted April 2022-May 2025, it incorporated two scoping reviews (published 2023), an international Delphi study (published 2025), consensus meetings and focus groups; prioritising global participation, patient perspectives, and interdisciplinary expertise throughout.

FINDINGS: Three hundred and four individuals from 45 countries, across six continents, contributed to developing two sets of items. Set A, the 'minimum dataset', is a globally relevant set of eight standardised socio-demographic items (age, sex, gender identity, place, race/ethnicity/cultural identity, education, financial position, work status), accompanied by concise guidance to assist implementation and setting-specific tailoring; Set B is an 'extended dataset' of optional items from which researchers can select items consistent with their study population and research questions. The ISSHOOs recommendations offer a culturally sensitive, cross-culturally relevant, practical and highly useful resource.

INTERPRETATION: Routine adoption and clear reporting of the ISSHOOs datasets across all human adult pain research will lead to improved and harmonious descriptions of research participants across health equity domains. Our goal is to promote equity-relevant awareness and understanding, and ultimately drive progress towards reducing avoidable disparities in health for people with pain, with potential for broader application to other fields of health.

FUNDING: NHMRC (Australia); MAYDAY Fund; IASP; Canada Research Chair Program; European Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme; ZonMw programs.

Original language	English
Article number	103586
Journal	EClinicalMedicine
Volume	90
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2025.103586
Publication status	Published - Dec 2025

Bibliographical note

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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Cite this

Karran, E. L., Cashin, A. G., Chiarotto, A., ISSHOOs Group, Sharma, S., Barker, T., Boyd, M. A., Maxwell, L. J., Mohabir, V., Petkovic, J., Tugwell, P., & Moseley, G. L. (2025). Identifying Social factors that Stratify Health Opportunities and Outcomes (ISSHOOs) in pain research: consensus recommendations for the collection and reporting of equity-relevant data. EClinicalMedicine, 90, Article 103586. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2025.103586

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abstract = "BACKGROUND: The aspiration to improve health equity is fundamental to scholarly focus and action in public health, and highly relevant to addressing the global burden of pain-the leading contributor to disability worldwide. There is potential for advancement towards health equity to be facilitated by greater access to data that identifies the role of socio-demographic factors in pain and health outcomes.METHODS: The 'Identifying Social factors that Stratify Health Opportunities and Outcomes (ISSHOOs) in Pain Research' project was a multi-stage process that aimed to reach consensus on the most important equity-relevant items to include in all human adult pain research. Conducted April 2022-May 2025, it incorporated two scoping reviews (published 2023), an international Delphi study (published 2025), consensus meetings and focus groups; prioritising global participation, patient perspectives, and interdisciplinary expertise throughout.FINDINGS: Three hundred and four individuals from 45 countries, across six continents, contributed to developing two sets of items. Set A, the 'minimum dataset', is a globally relevant set of eight standardised socio-demographic items (age, sex, gender identity, place, race/ethnicity/cultural identity, education, financial position, work status), accompanied by concise guidance to assist implementation and setting-specific tailoring; Set B is an 'extended dataset' of optional items from which researchers can select items consistent with their study population and research questions. The ISSHOOs recommendations offer a culturally sensitive, cross-culturally relevant, practical and highly useful resource.INTERPRETATION: Routine adoption and clear reporting of the ISSHOOs datasets across all human adult pain research will lead to improved and harmonious descriptions of research participants across health equity domains. Our goal is to promote equity-relevant awareness and understanding, and ultimately drive progress towards reducing avoidable disparities in health for people with pain, with potential for broader application to other fields of health.FUNDING: NHMRC (Australia); MAYDAY Fund; IASP; Canada Research Chair Program; European Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme; ZonMw programs.",

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Karran, EL, Cashin, AG, Chiarotto, A, ISSHOOs Group, Sharma, S, Barker, T, Boyd, MA, Maxwell, LJ, Mohabir, V, Petkovic, J, Tugwell, P & Moseley, GL 2025, 'Identifying Social factors that Stratify Health Opportunities and Outcomes (ISSHOOs) in pain research: consensus recommendations for the collection and reporting of equity-relevant data', EClinicalMedicine, vol. 90, 103586. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2025.103586

Identifying Social factors that Stratify Health Opportunities and Outcomes (ISSHOOs) in pain research: consensus recommendations for the collection and reporting of equity-relevant data. / Karran, Emma L; Cashin, Aidan G; Chiarotto, Alessandro et al.
In: EClinicalMedicine, Vol. 90, 103586, 12.2025.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

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T1 - Identifying Social factors that Stratify Health Opportunities and Outcomes (ISSHOOs) in pain research

T2 - consensus recommendations for the collection and reporting of equity-relevant data

AU - Karran, Emma L

AU - Cashin, Aidan G

AU - Chiarotto, Alessandro

AU - ISSHOOs Group

AU - Sharma, Saurab

AU - Barker, Trevor

AU - Boyd, Mark A

AU - Maxwell, Lara J

AU - Mohabir, Vina

AU - Petkovic, Jennifer

AU - Tugwell, Peter

AU - Moseley, G Lorimer

PY - 2025/12

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N2 - BACKGROUND: The aspiration to improve health equity is fundamental to scholarly focus and action in public health, and highly relevant to addressing the global burden of pain-the leading contributor to disability worldwide. There is potential for advancement towards health equity to be facilitated by greater access to data that identifies the role of socio-demographic factors in pain and health outcomes.METHODS: The 'Identifying Social factors that Stratify Health Opportunities and Outcomes (ISSHOOs) in Pain Research' project was a multi-stage process that aimed to reach consensus on the most important equity-relevant items to include in all human adult pain research. Conducted April 2022-May 2025, it incorporated two scoping reviews (published 2023), an international Delphi study (published 2025), consensus meetings and focus groups; prioritising global participation, patient perspectives, and interdisciplinary expertise throughout.FINDINGS: Three hundred and four individuals from 45 countries, across six continents, contributed to developing two sets of items. Set A, the 'minimum dataset', is a globally relevant set of eight standardised socio-demographic items (age, sex, gender identity, place, race/ethnicity/cultural identity, education, financial position, work status), accompanied by concise guidance to assist implementation and setting-specific tailoring; Set B is an 'extended dataset' of optional items from which researchers can select items consistent with their study population and research questions. The ISSHOOs recommendations offer a culturally sensitive, cross-culturally relevant, practical and highly useful resource.INTERPRETATION: Routine adoption and clear reporting of the ISSHOOs datasets across all human adult pain research will lead to improved and harmonious descriptions of research participants across health equity domains. Our goal is to promote equity-relevant awareness and understanding, and ultimately drive progress towards reducing avoidable disparities in health for people with pain, with potential for broader application to other fields of health.FUNDING: NHMRC (Australia); MAYDAY Fund; IASP; Canada Research Chair Program; European Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme; ZonMw programs.

AB - BACKGROUND: The aspiration to improve health equity is fundamental to scholarly focus and action in public health, and highly relevant to addressing the global burden of pain-the leading contributor to disability worldwide. There is potential for advancement towards health equity to be facilitated by greater access to data that identifies the role of socio-demographic factors in pain and health outcomes.METHODS: The 'Identifying Social factors that Stratify Health Opportunities and Outcomes (ISSHOOs) in Pain Research' project was a multi-stage process that aimed to reach consensus on the most important equity-relevant items to include in all human adult pain research. Conducted April 2022-May 2025, it incorporated two scoping reviews (published 2023), an international Delphi study (published 2025), consensus meetings and focus groups; prioritising global participation, patient perspectives, and interdisciplinary expertise throughout.FINDINGS: Three hundred and four individuals from 45 countries, across six continents, contributed to developing two sets of items. Set A, the 'minimum dataset', is a globally relevant set of eight standardised socio-demographic items (age, sex, gender identity, place, race/ethnicity/cultural identity, education, financial position, work status), accompanied by concise guidance to assist implementation and setting-specific tailoring; Set B is an 'extended dataset' of optional items from which researchers can select items consistent with their study population and research questions. The ISSHOOs recommendations offer a culturally sensitive, cross-culturally relevant, practical and highly useful resource.INTERPRETATION: Routine adoption and clear reporting of the ISSHOOs datasets across all human adult pain research will lead to improved and harmonious descriptions of research participants across health equity domains. Our goal is to promote equity-relevant awareness and understanding, and ultimately drive progress towards reducing avoidable disparities in health for people with pain, with potential for broader application to other fields of health.FUNDING: NHMRC (Australia); MAYDAY Fund; IASP; Canada Research Chair Program; European Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme; ZonMw programs.

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DO - 10.1016/j.eclinm.2025.103586

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JO - EClinicalMedicine

JF - EClinicalMedicine

M1 - 103586

ER -

Identifying Social factors that Stratify Health Opportunities and Outcomes (ISSHOOs) in pain research: consensus recommendations for the collection and reporting of equity-relevant data

Abstract

Bibliographical note

UN SDGs

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