ISSHOOs Project Defines Core Socio-Demographic Dataset to Advance Equity in Pain Research
A recent consensus paper published in The Lancet establishes standardised recommendations for the collection and reporting of equity-relevant socio-demographic data in pain research. The “Identifying Social factors that Stratify Health Opportunities and Outcomes (ISSHOOs)” project engaged over 300 experts and stakeholders across 45 countries through scoping reviews, a Delphi study, consensus meetings, and focus groups.
The authors define a minimum dataset (Set A) comprising eight core variables — including age, gender identity, place of residence, race/ethnicity, education, financial status, and employment — with clear guidance for implementation in adult pain studies. They further propose an extended dataset (Set B) of optional items tailored to specific research contexts or populations.
Routine adoption of these recommendations will enhance the comparability, transparency, and generalisability of pain research by systematically capturing social determinants of health. Importantly, they respond directly to EFIC pain research strategy by addressing health inequities and enabling more inclusive study designs. By integrating these equity-oriented data practices, the EFIC community can better elucidate how social stratification affects pain outcomes and target interventions more equitably.
