Catalysing global surgery: a meta-research study on factors affecting surgical research collaborations with Africa
Abstract Introduction In December 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the urgent need for rapid collaboration, research, and interventions. International research collaborations foster more significant responses to rapid global changes by enabling international, multicentre research, decreasing...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Systematic Reviews |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-024-02474-8 |
| _version_ | 1797247495516979200 |
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| author | Thomas O. Kirengo Hussein Dossajee Evans M. Onyango Reema H. Rachakonda Bailey Schneider Declan P. Sela Zahra Hosseinzadeh Zohaib Nadeem Nchafatso G. Obonyo |
| author_facet | Thomas O. Kirengo Hussein Dossajee Evans M. Onyango Reema H. Rachakonda Bailey Schneider Declan P. Sela Zahra Hosseinzadeh Zohaib Nadeem Nchafatso G. Obonyo |
| author_sort | Thomas O. Kirengo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Introduction In December 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the urgent need for rapid collaboration, research, and interventions. International research collaborations foster more significant responses to rapid global changes by enabling international, multicentre research, decreasing biases, and increasing study validity while reducing overall research time and costs. However, there has been low uptake of collaborative research by African institutions and individuals. Aim To systematically review facilitating factors and challenges to collaborative surgical research studies conducted in Africa. Methodology A meta-research review using PubMed®/MEDLINE and Embase on surgical collaboration in Africa from 1st of January 2011 to 31st of September 2021 in accordance to PRISMA guidelines. Surgical studies by collaborative groups involving African authors and sites were included (55 papers). Data on the study period, geographical regions, and research scope, facilitating factors, and challenges were extracted from the studies retrieved from the search. Results Most of the collaborations in Africa occurred with European institutions (76%). Of the 54 African countries, 63% (34/54) participated in surgical collaborations. The highest collaboration frequency occurred in South Africa (11%) and Nigeria (8%). However, most publications originated from Eastern Africa (43%). Leveraging synergies between high- and low- to middle-income countries (LMICs), well-defined structures, and secure data platforms facilitated collaboration. However, the underrepresentation of collaborators from LMICs was a significant challenge. Conclusion Available literature provides critical insights into the facilitating factors and challenges of research collaboration with Africa. However, there is a need for a detailed prospective study to explore the themes highlighted further. Systematic review registration PROSPERO 2022 CRD42022352115 . |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T19:59:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c6c4b0c62d334f3ebff5f7840dd4eec5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2046-4053 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T19:59:36Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Systematic Reviews |
| spelling | doaj.art-c6c4b0c62d334f3ebff5f7840dd4eec52024-03-24T12:11:49ZengBMCSystematic Reviews2046-40532024-03-0113111710.1186/s13643-024-02474-8Catalysing global surgery: a meta-research study on factors affecting surgical research collaborations with AfricaThomas O. Kirengo0Hussein Dossajee1Evans M. Onyango2Reema H. Rachakonda3Bailey Schneider4Declan P. Sela5Zahra Hosseinzadeh6Zohaib Nadeem7Nchafatso G. Obonyo8Imara HospitalMP Shah HospitalMinistry of HealthFaculty of Medicine, University of QueenslandFaculty of Medicine, University of QueenslandFaculty of Medicine, University of QueenslandFaculty of Medicine, University of QueenslandFaculty of Medicine, University of QueenslandFaculty of Medicine, University of QueenslandAbstract Introduction In December 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the urgent need for rapid collaboration, research, and interventions. International research collaborations foster more significant responses to rapid global changes by enabling international, multicentre research, decreasing biases, and increasing study validity while reducing overall research time and costs. However, there has been low uptake of collaborative research by African institutions and individuals. Aim To systematically review facilitating factors and challenges to collaborative surgical research studies conducted in Africa. Methodology A meta-research review using PubMed®/MEDLINE and Embase on surgical collaboration in Africa from 1st of January 2011 to 31st of September 2021 in accordance to PRISMA guidelines. Surgical studies by collaborative groups involving African authors and sites were included (55 papers). Data on the study period, geographical regions, and research scope, facilitating factors, and challenges were extracted from the studies retrieved from the search. Results Most of the collaborations in Africa occurred with European institutions (76%). Of the 54 African countries, 63% (34/54) participated in surgical collaborations. The highest collaboration frequency occurred in South Africa (11%) and Nigeria (8%). However, most publications originated from Eastern Africa (43%). Leveraging synergies between high- and low- to middle-income countries (LMICs), well-defined structures, and secure data platforms facilitated collaboration. However, the underrepresentation of collaborators from LMICs was a significant challenge. Conclusion Available literature provides critical insights into the facilitating factors and challenges of research collaboration with Africa. However, there is a need for a detailed prospective study to explore the themes highlighted further. Systematic review registration PROSPERO 2022 CRD42022352115 .https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-024-02474-8COVID-19SurgeryCollaborationsResearchAfrica |
| spellingShingle | Thomas O. Kirengo Hussein Dossajee Evans M. Onyango Reema H. Rachakonda Bailey Schneider Declan P. Sela Zahra Hosseinzadeh Zohaib Nadeem Nchafatso G. Obonyo Catalysing global surgery: a meta-research study on factors affecting surgical research collaborations with Africa Systematic Reviews COVID-19 Surgery Collaborations Research Africa |
| title | Catalysing global surgery: a meta-research study on factors affecting surgical research collaborations with Africa |
| title_full | Catalysing global surgery: a meta-research study on factors affecting surgical research collaborations with Africa |
| title_fullStr | Catalysing global surgery: a meta-research study on factors affecting surgical research collaborations with Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Catalysing global surgery: a meta-research study on factors affecting surgical research collaborations with Africa |
| title_short | Catalysing global surgery: a meta-research study on factors affecting surgical research collaborations with Africa |
| title_sort | catalysing global surgery a meta research study on factors affecting surgical research collaborations with africa |
| topic | COVID-19 Surgery Collaborations Research Africa |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-024-02474-8 |
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