Evidence-based biomedical research in Sub-Saharan Africa: how library and information science professionals contribute to systematic reviews and meta-analyses (original) (raw)
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While African health sciences librarians’ role as expert searchers is widely recognized, they have much more to contribute to supporting the development and conduct of systematic reviews. Research evidence has indicated that the librarians rarely participate in the development and conduct of systematic reviews because they are either not called upon to be part, or do not have the skills to participate. Moreover, few librarians who have participated are from outside Africa. Keeping this in mind, the Network of African Medical Librarians (NAML) conducted a pre-AHILA Conference training workshop to introduce participants, specifically the librarians, to the systematic review process. The regional conference for health librarians took place in Ibadan, Nigeria from 14-18 October 2019. This paper evaluates the impact of training of African health sciences librarians in the conduct of systematic reviews. Participants' evaluation feedback was collected using pre and post-training survey...
2022
IntroductionAlthough the publication of systematic reviews (SR) and meta-analyses (MA) has substantially grown in Ethiopia, no robust study systematically characterized these SR and MA was conducted. Thus, we aimed to map publication outputs, collaboration networks, research hotspots, and most cited SR and MA of medicine and health sciences in Ethiopia.MethodsWe conducted a bibliometric study of SR and MA published up to December 31, 2021, and systematically searched via PubMed, PsycInfo, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases. We included all SR and MA in medicine and health sciences fields in Ethiopia irrespective of the authors’ affiliation and place of publication. Full records and cited references’ meta-data were extracted from the Web of Science Core Collection database. VOSviewer software was used to perform bibliometric analyses. The relevance of an item (e.g. author, country, or keywords) was measured by its weight based on frequencies using the full or binary counting method...
2022
IntroductionThe publication rate of systematic reviews (SRs) and meta-analyses (MA) has been substantially growing in Ethiopia. However, there is no robust study that systematically characterized these SRs and MA. The objective of this study was to map authors’ collaboration networks and identify trending research topics and most cited SRs and MA in Ethiopia.MethodsSRs and MA published up to December 31, 2021, were searched in PubMed, PsycInfo, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases. We included all SRs and MA based on preclinical, clinical, and public health primary studies associated with the Ethiopian population irrespective of the place of publication and authors’ affiliation. Full record and cited references meta-data of SRs and MA were extracted from the Web of Science Core Collection database. VOSviewer software was used to perform bibliometric analysis and create, visualize, and explore network maps of authors’ collaboration, keyword and term occurrences, journals and (co-)cit...
Pan African Medical Journal, 2016
Health research serves to answer questions concerning health and to accumulate facts (evidence) required to guide healthcare policy and practice. However, research designs vary and different types of healthcare questions are best answered by different study designs. For example, qualitative studies are best suited for answering questions about experiences and meaning; cross-sectional studies for questions concerning prevalence; cohort studies for questions regarding incidence and prognosis; and randomised controlled trials for questions on prevention and treatment. In each case, one study would rarely yield sufficient evidence on which to reliably base a healthcare decision. An unbiased and transparent summary of all existing studies on a given question (i.e. a systematic review) tells a better story than any one of the included studies taken separately. A systematic review enables producers and users of research to gauge what a new study has contributed to knowledge by setting the study's findings in the context of all previous studies investigating the same question. It is therefore inappropriate to initiate a new study without first conducting a systematic review to find out what can be learnt from existing studies. There is nothing new in taking account of earlier studies in either the design or interpretation of new studies. For example, in the 18th century James Lind conducted a clinical trial followed by a systematic review of contemporary treatments for scurvy; which showed fruits to be an effective treatment for the disease. However, surveys of the peerreviewed literature continue to provide empirical evidence that systematic reviews are seldom used in the design and interpretation of the findings of new studies. Such indifference to systematic reviews as a research function is unethical, unscientific, and uneconomical. Without systematic reviews, limited resources are very likely to be squandered on ill-conceived research and policies. In order to contribute in enhancing the value of research in Africa, the Pan African Medical Journal will start a new regular column that will highlight priority systematic reviews relevant to the continent.
2015
In 2013, Makerere University College of Health Sciences (MakCHS) received funding support from the International Development Research Centre, Canada, to establish an Africa Centre for Systematic Reviews and Knowledge Translation. The aim of the Centre is to build capacity for knowledge translation for health policy in Uganda and East Africa. The Centre is steadily transforming Uganda and the East African region into an environment that is driven by evidence informed health policy and action, and one that is self-reliant in capacity for evidence synthesis and knowledge translation. The Centre team comprises clinical epidemiologists, public health physicians, health policy analysts, health systems researchers and library and information scientists. The paper examines the instructional and research roles of health sciences librarians at the Centre, in informing evidence-based medical practice and health policy-making. The paper was informed by data from the Centre activities: courses c...
Overview of the role of librarians in systematic reviews: From expert search to project manager
2015
Introduction Systematic reviews have become a vital part of medical research and evidence-based practices. This research method “attempts to collate all empirical evidence that fits pre-specified eligibility criteria in order to answer a specific research question” (1). There has been a sharp rise in publication of systematic reviews due to the increased call for evidence-based research; high publication rate of primary studies, growing number of professional organizations promoting systematic reviews, and high number of tools available to conduct review. The upsurge in reviews has led to more researchers seeking the assistance of librarians. The importance of including a librarian a systematic review, especially the search process, has been documented and evaluated (1-3). The value of librarians was recognized by the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies when it published its Standards for Systematic Reviews which require that a librarian plan the search strategy. Through...
Capacity for conducting systematic reviews in low- and middle-income countries: a rapid appraisal
Health Research Policy and Systems, 2015
Systematic reviews of research are increasingly recognised as important for informing decisions across policy sectors and for setting priorities for research. Although reviews draw on international research, the host institutions and countries can focus attention on their own priorities. The uneven capacity for conducting research around the world raises questions about the capacity for conducting systematic reviews.
BMJ Global Health
Priority setting to identify topical and context relevant questions for systematic reviews involves an explicit, iterative and inclusive process. In resource-constrained settings of low-income and middle-income countries, priority setting for health related research activities ensures efficient use of resources. In this paper, we critically reflect on the approaches and specific processes adopted across three regions of Africa, present some of the outcomes and share the lessons learnt while carrying out these activities. Priority setting for new systematic reviews was conducted between 2016 and 2018 across three regions in Africa. Different approaches were used: Multimodal approach (Central Africa), Modified Delphi approach (West Africa) and Multilevel stakeholder discussion (Southern-Eastern Africa). Several questions that can feed into systematic reviews have emerged from these activities. We have learnt that collaborative subregional efforts using an integrative approach can effe...