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The Pan African Thoracic Society Methods in Epidemiologic, Clinical and Operations Research Program: A story of success told through a history of publications

Nwankwo, Ogonna Nwota Odi, Ukwaja, Kingsley N., Ozoh, Obianuju B., Akpet, Obaji, Iwara, Nora N., Nwankwo, Grace Ijeoma, Ita-Lincoln, Freedman, Akpoke, Michael, Ardrey, Jane ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4558-5113, Du Melle, Fran, Buist, Sonia, Mortimer, Kevin ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8118-8871 and Masekela, Refiloe (2022) 'The Pan African Thoracic Society Methods in Epidemiologic, Clinical and Operations Research Program: A story of success told through a history of publications'. Journal of the Pan African Thoracic Society, Vol 3, pp. 16-24.

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Abstract

Objectives: Despite bearing a substantial burden of respiratory diseases, low- and middle-income countries in Africa contribute little to the research literature. Since 2007, the Pan African Thoracic Society’s Methods in Epidemiologic, Clinical, and Operations Research (PATS-MECOR) program has been working to strengthen capacity in lung health research in Africa. The aim of this study was to assess the research productivity of previous PATS-MECOR participants.

Materials and Methods: A systematic review of publications attributed to past PATS-MECOR participants up until 2018 was carried out using a systematic search strategy based on their names on PubMed database.

Results: A total of 210 participants drawn from 21 African countries attended PATS-MECOR between 2007 and 2016, of which more than three-quarters (76.7%) had ever published. Of the total 1673 included publications, 303 (12.7%) had multiple course attendees as coauthors. The median publication per published participant was 5 (IQR 2–13) articles. The percentages of the first author, second authors, or last authors publications were 371 (22.2%), 239 (14.3%), and 99 (5.9%), respectively. The top three journals published in were PLOS One 108 (6.6%), Lancet 80 (4.9%), and the International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease 52 (3.2%). The median citation of their publications was 11 (4–26). There was approximately a double-fold rise in the publication output of participants in their 1st year following attendance to PATS-MECOR compared to the year before the course (123, 68.0% vs. 58, 32.0%).

Conclusion: The PATS-MECOR training program has been successful in research capacity building for African investigators as evidenced by a growing publication track record. There is a need to ensure sustainability and for increased collaboration and networking among the trained critical mass of researchers in the continent.

Item Type: Article
Subjects: WF Respiratory System > WF 20 Research (General)
WF Respiratory System > Lungs > WF 600 Lungs
WZ History of Medicine. Medical Miscellany > WZ 23 Institutes
Faculty: Department: Clinical Sciences & International Health > Clinical Sciences Department
Clinical Sciences & International Health > International Public Health Department
Digital Object Identifer (DOI): https://doi.org/10.25259/jpats_41_2021
SWORD Depositor: JISC Pubrouter
Depositing User: JISC Pubrouter
Date Deposited: 31 Mar 2022 13:47
Last Modified: 31 Mar 2022 13:47
URI: https://archive.lstmed.ac.uk/id/eprint/19922

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