A systematic review on academic research productivity of postgraduate students in low- and middle-income countries
Abstract Background While several individual studies addressing research productivity of post-graduate students are available, a synthesis of effective strategies to increase productivity and the determinants of productivity in low-income countries has not been undertaken. Further, whether or not th...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2018-08-01
|
| Series: | Health Research Policy and Systems |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12961-018-0360-7 |
| _version_ | 1819054539535286272 |
|---|---|
| author | E. A. Obuku J. N. Lavis A. Kinengyere R. Ssenono M. Ocan D. K. Mafigiri F. Ssengooba C. Karamagi N. K. Sewankambo |
| author_facet | E. A. Obuku J. N. Lavis A. Kinengyere R. Ssenono M. Ocan D. K. Mafigiri F. Ssengooba C. Karamagi N. K. Sewankambo |
| author_sort | E. A. Obuku |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background While several individual studies addressing research productivity of post-graduate students are available, a synthesis of effective strategies to increase productivity and the determinants of productivity in low-income countries has not been undertaken. Further, whether or not this research from post-graduate students’ projects was applied in evidence-informed decision-making was unknown. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review of literature to identify and assess the effectiveness of approaches that increase productivity (proportion published) or the application (proportion cited) of post-graduate students’ research, as well as to assess the determinants of post-graduate students’ research productivity and use. Methods We conducted a systematic review as per our a priori published protocol, also registered in PROSPERO (CRD42016042819). We searched for published articles in PubMed/MEDLINE and the ERIC databases through to July 2017. We performed duplicate assessments for included primary studies and resolved discrepancies by consensus. Thereafter, we completed a structured narrative synthesis and, for a subset of studies, we performed a meta-analysis of the findings using both fixed and random effects approaches. We aligned our results to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. Results We found 5080 articles in the PubMed (n = 3848) and ERIC (n = 1232) databases. After excluding duplicates (n = 33), we screened 5047 articles, of which 5012 were excluded. We then retrieved 44 full texts and synthesised 14, of which 4 had a high risk of bias. We did not find any studies assessing effectiveness of strategies for increasing publication nor citations of post-graduate research projects. We found an average publication proportion of 7% (95% CI 7–8%, Higgins I-squared 0.0% and Cochran’s Q p < 0.01) and 23% (95% CI 17–29%, Higgins I-squared of 98.4% and Cochran’s Q, p < 0.01) using fixed effects and random effects models, respectively. Two studies reported on the citation of post-graduate students’ studies, at 17% (95% CI 15–19%) in Uganda and a median citation of 1 study in Turkey (IQR 0.6–2.3). Only one included study reported on the determinants of productivity or use of post-graduate students’ research, suggesting that younger students were more likely to publish and cohort studies were more likely to be published. Conclusions We report on the low productivity of post-graduate students’ research in low- and middle-income countries, including the citation of post-graduate students’ research in evidence-informed health policy in low- and middle-income countries. Secondly, we did not find a single study that assessed strategies to increase productivity and use of post-graduate students’ research in evidence-informed health policy, a subject for future research. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T12:53:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-663c6bcb0b7344aba949870d597f16ac |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1478-4505 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T12:53:14Z |
| publishDate | 2018-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Health Research Policy and Systems |
| spelling | doaj.art-663c6bcb0b7344aba949870d597f16ac2022-12-21T19:03:25ZengBMCHealth Research Policy and Systems1478-45052018-08-011611810.1186/s12961-018-0360-7A systematic review on academic research productivity of postgraduate students in low- and middle-income countriesE. A. Obuku0J. N. Lavis1A. Kinengyere2R. Ssenono3M. Ocan4D. K. Mafigiri5F. Ssengooba6C. Karamagi7N. K. Sewankambo8Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere UniversityMcMaster Health Forum, Centre for Health Economics and Policy Analysis, Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact, and Department of Political Science, McMaster UniversitySir Albert Cook Library, College of Health Sciences, Makerere UniversityThe African Centre for Systematic Reviews and Knowledge Translation, Makerere UniversityThe African Centre for Systematic Reviews and Knowledge Translation, Makerere UniversityDepartment of Social Work and Social Administration, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Makerere UniversityDepartment of Health Policy and Planning, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Makerere UniversityClinical Epidemiology Unit, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere UniversityClinical Epidemiology Unit, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere UniversityAbstract Background While several individual studies addressing research productivity of post-graduate students are available, a synthesis of effective strategies to increase productivity and the determinants of productivity in low-income countries has not been undertaken. Further, whether or not this research from post-graduate students’ projects was applied in evidence-informed decision-making was unknown. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review of literature to identify and assess the effectiveness of approaches that increase productivity (proportion published) or the application (proportion cited) of post-graduate students’ research, as well as to assess the determinants of post-graduate students’ research productivity and use. Methods We conducted a systematic review as per our a priori published protocol, also registered in PROSPERO (CRD42016042819). We searched for published articles in PubMed/MEDLINE and the ERIC databases through to July 2017. We performed duplicate assessments for included primary studies and resolved discrepancies by consensus. Thereafter, we completed a structured narrative synthesis and, for a subset of studies, we performed a meta-analysis of the findings using both fixed and random effects approaches. We aligned our results to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. Results We found 5080 articles in the PubMed (n = 3848) and ERIC (n = 1232) databases. After excluding duplicates (n = 33), we screened 5047 articles, of which 5012 were excluded. We then retrieved 44 full texts and synthesised 14, of which 4 had a high risk of bias. We did not find any studies assessing effectiveness of strategies for increasing publication nor citations of post-graduate research projects. We found an average publication proportion of 7% (95% CI 7–8%, Higgins I-squared 0.0% and Cochran’s Q p < 0.01) and 23% (95% CI 17–29%, Higgins I-squared of 98.4% and Cochran’s Q, p < 0.01) using fixed effects and random effects models, respectively. Two studies reported on the citation of post-graduate students’ studies, at 17% (95% CI 15–19%) in Uganda and a median citation of 1 study in Turkey (IQR 0.6–2.3). Only one included study reported on the determinants of productivity or use of post-graduate students’ research, suggesting that younger students were more likely to publish and cohort studies were more likely to be published. Conclusions We report on the low productivity of post-graduate students’ research in low- and middle-income countries, including the citation of post-graduate students’ research in evidence-informed health policy in low- and middle-income countries. Secondly, we did not find a single study that assessed strategies to increase productivity and use of post-graduate students’ research in evidence-informed health policy, a subject for future research.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12961-018-0360-7StudentProductivityPublicationCitationEvidence-informed health policyKnowledge translation |
| spellingShingle | E. A. Obuku J. N. Lavis A. Kinengyere R. Ssenono M. Ocan D. K. Mafigiri F. Ssengooba C. Karamagi N. K. Sewankambo A systematic review on academic research productivity of postgraduate students in low- and middle-income countries Health Research Policy and Systems Student Productivity Publication Citation Evidence-informed health policy Knowledge translation |
| title | A systematic review on academic research productivity of postgraduate students in low- and middle-income countries |
| title_full | A systematic review on academic research productivity of postgraduate students in low- and middle-income countries |
| title_fullStr | A systematic review on academic research productivity of postgraduate students in low- and middle-income countries |
| title_full_unstemmed | A systematic review on academic research productivity of postgraduate students in low- and middle-income countries |
| title_short | A systematic review on academic research productivity of postgraduate students in low- and middle-income countries |
| title_sort | systematic review on academic research productivity of postgraduate students in low and middle income countries |
| topic | Student Productivity Publication Citation Evidence-informed health policy Knowledge translation |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12961-018-0360-7 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT eaobuku asystematicreviewonacademicresearchproductivityofpostgraduatestudentsinlowandmiddleincomecountries AT jnlavis asystematicreviewonacademicresearchproductivityofpostgraduatestudentsinlowandmiddleincomecountries AT akinengyere asystematicreviewonacademicresearchproductivityofpostgraduatestudentsinlowandmiddleincomecountries AT rssenono asystematicreviewonacademicresearchproductivityofpostgraduatestudentsinlowandmiddleincomecountries AT mocan asystematicreviewonacademicresearchproductivityofpostgraduatestudentsinlowandmiddleincomecountries AT dkmafigiri asystematicreviewonacademicresearchproductivityofpostgraduatestudentsinlowandmiddleincomecountries AT fssengooba asystematicreviewonacademicresearchproductivityofpostgraduatestudentsinlowandmiddleincomecountries AT ckaramagi asystematicreviewonacademicresearchproductivityofpostgraduatestudentsinlowandmiddleincomecountries AT nksewankambo asystematicreviewonacademicresearchproductivityofpostgraduatestudentsinlowandmiddleincomecountries AT eaobuku systematicreviewonacademicresearchproductivityofpostgraduatestudentsinlowandmiddleincomecountries AT jnlavis systematicreviewonacademicresearchproductivityofpostgraduatestudentsinlowandmiddleincomecountries AT akinengyere systematicreviewonacademicresearchproductivityofpostgraduatestudentsinlowandmiddleincomecountries AT rssenono systematicreviewonacademicresearchproductivityofpostgraduatestudentsinlowandmiddleincomecountries AT mocan systematicreviewonacademicresearchproductivityofpostgraduatestudentsinlowandmiddleincomecountries AT dkmafigiri systematicreviewonacademicresearchproductivityofpostgraduatestudentsinlowandmiddleincomecountries AT fssengooba systematicreviewonacademicresearchproductivityofpostgraduatestudentsinlowandmiddleincomecountries AT ckaramagi systematicreviewonacademicresearchproductivityofpostgraduatestudentsinlowandmiddleincomecountries AT nksewankambo systematicreviewonacademicresearchproductivityofpostgraduatestudentsinlowandmiddleincomecountries |