BACKGROUND: The National Institute for Health Research Global Health Research Unit on Global Surgery is establishing research Hubs in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The aim of this study was for the Hubs to prioritize future research into areas of unmet clinical need for patients in LMICs requiring surgery. METHODS: A modified Delphi process was overseen by the research Hub leads and engaged LMIC clinicians, patients and expert methodologists. A four-stage iterative process was delivered to prioritize research topics. This included anonymous electronic voting, teleconference discussions and a 2-day priority-setting workshop. RESULTS: In stage 1, Hub leads proposed 32 topics across six domains: access to surgery, cancer, perioperative care, research methods, acute care surgery and communicable disease. In stages 2 and 3, 40 LMICs and 20 high-income countries participated in online voting, leading to identification of three priority research topics: access to surgery; outcomes of cancer surgery; and perioperative care. During stage 4, specific research plans to address each topic were developed by Hub leads at a priority-setting workshop. CONCLUSION: This process identified three priority areas for future research relevant to surgery in LMICs. It was driven by front-line LMIC clinicians, patients and other stakeholders representing a diverse range of settings. The results of the prioritization exercise provide a future framework for researchers and funders.
BACKGROUND: The National Institute for Health Research Global Health Research Unit on Global Surgery is establishing research Hubs in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The aim of this study was for the Hubs to prioritize future research into areas of unmet clinical need for patients in LMICs requiring surgery. METHODS: A modified Delphi process was overseen by the research Hub leads and engaged LMIC clinicians, patients and expert methodologists. A four-stage iterative process was delivered to prioritize research topics. This included anonymous electronic voting, teleconference discussions and a 2-day priority-setting workshop. RESULTS: In stage 1, Hub leads proposed 32 topics across six domains: access to surgery, cancer, perioperative care, research methods, acute care surgery and communicable disease. In stages 2 and 3, 40 LMICs and 20 high-income countries participated in online voting, leading to identification of three priority research topics: access to surgery; outcomes of cancer surgery; and perioperative care. During stage 4, specific research plans to address each topic were developed by Hub leads at a priority-setting workshop. CONCLUSION: This process identified three priority areas for future research relevant to surgery in LMICs. It was driven by front-line LMIC clinicians, patients and other stakeholders representing a diverse range of settings. The results of the prioritization exercise provide a future framework for researchers and funders.
Authors: Anne Marie Sowerbutts; Stephen R Knight; Marie Carmela M Lapitan; Ahmad U Qureshi; Mayaba Maimbo; Edwin Mwintiereh Ta-Ang Yenli; Stephen Tabiri; Dhruva Ghosh; Pamela Alice Kingsley; Sudha Sundar; Catherine A Shaw; Apple Valparaiso; Cristina Almira Alviz; Aneel Bhangu; Evropi Theodoratou; Thomas G Weiser; Ewen M Harrison; Sorrel T Burden Journal: Nutrients Date: 2022-02-18 Impact factor: 5.717
Authors: Stephen R Knight; Ahmad U Qureshi; Thomas M Drake; Marie Carmela M Lapitan; Mayaba Maimbo; Edwin Yenli; Stephen Tabiri; Dhruva Ghosh; Pamela A Kingsley; Sudha Sundar; Catherine Shaw; Apple P Valparaiso; Aneel Bhangu; Peter Brocklehurst; Laura Magill; Dion G Morton; John Norrie; Tracey E Roberts; Evropi Theodoratou; Thomas G Weiser; Sorrel Burden; Ewen M Harrison Journal: Sci Rep Date: 2022-07-21 Impact factor: 4.996
Authors: A T Adenekan; A A Aderounmu; F O Wuraola; A M Owojuyigbe; A O Adetoye; D Nepogodiev; L Magill; A Bhangu; A O Adisa Journal: BJS Open Date: 2019-03-26