Field Epidemiology and Public Health Research Priorities in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: Delphi Technique

Research is essential for evidence-based decision making. This study aimed to identify research priorities in the areas of field epidemiology and public health in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) from the perspectives of public health professionals. A Delphi technique, using online survey, was employed to reach 168 public health professionals who have experience in the EMR countries. The study took place between November 2019 and January 2020. Consensus on the research priorities was reached after two-round online questionnaires. A list of top 10 field epidemiology and public health research priorities in the EMR was developed. Of those priorities, four fell under health in emergency, war and armed conflict, two under communicable diseases, two under immunization, one under digital health, and one under sexual, reproductive, and adolescent health. Availability, adequacy, and quality of health services in crisis settings were scored as a top priority (mean = 4.4, rank 1), followed by use of technology to improve the collection, documentation, and analysis of health data (mean = 4.28, rank 2), and capacity of countries in the region to respond to emergencies (mean = 4.25, rank 3). This study was conducted prior to COVID-19 pandemic and, thus, it did not capture COVID-19 research as a priority area. Nevertheless, identified priorities under communicable diseases including outbreak investigation of infectious diseases, epidemics and challenges related to communicable diseases in the EMR were still notable. In conclusion, the field epidemiology and public health research priorities identified in this study through a systematic inclusive process could be useful to make informed decisions and gear the research efforts to improve the health of people in the EMR.

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Evaluation of Advanced Field Epidemiology Training Programs in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: A Multi-Country Study

Frontiers in Public Health ◽

10.3389/fpubh.2021.684174 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

Author(s):

Mohannad Al Nsour ◽

Yousef Khader ◽

Haitham Bashier ◽

Majd Alsoukhni

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Health Professionals ◽

Public Health Surveillance ◽

Training Programs ◽

Eastern Mediterranean ◽

Eastern Mediterranean Region ◽

Health Surveillance ◽

Surveillance Systems ◽

Field Epidemiology ◽

Public Health Professionals

Field Epidemiology Training Programs (FETPs) are competency-based training programs aiming to strengthen the epidemiologic capacity of the public health workforce. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of the advanced FETPs in the Eastern Mediterranean region (EMR) and ascertain whether the expected objectives of the programs are met. A descriptive study was conducted based on Kirkpatrick's model for evaluating training programs. Data were collected from FETP graduates and FETP technical advisers on the practices of FETP graduates, their engagement in key areas of field epidemiology, and their perceived skills and capacity to perform such activities. A total of 166 FETP graduates responded to the online survey. Almost two-thirds of FETP graduates reported that they are often engaged in managing public health surveillance systems (n = 119, 71.7%), analyzing the surveillance data (n = 116, 69.9%), training public health professionals (n = 113, 68.1%), investigations on and response to outbreaks (n = 109, 65.7%), and managing staff and resources (n = 106, 63.9%). However, only 28.3% reported that they are often engaged in writing scientific research articles. More than two-thirds of graduates reported that the FETP helped them to perform most of the field epidemiology activities and rate their skills as good. In conclusion, the FETP graduates in the EMR were well engaged in many field epidemiology activities including managing public health surveillance systems, surveillance data analysis, training public health professionals, and investigations on and response to outbreaks. Therefore, the FETPs should continue supporting the graduates to work toward strengthening surveillance systems and investigating outbreaks and to participate in regional and global efforts as part of the Global Health Security.

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Public Health Research Priorities to Address US Human Trafficking

American Journal of Public Health ◽

10.2105/ajph.2017.303858 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 107 (7) ◽

pp. 1045-1047 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

Emily F. Rothman ◽

Hanni Stoklosa ◽

Susie B. Baldwin ◽

Makini Chisolm-Straker ◽

Rumi Kato Price ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Human Trafficking ◽

Health Research ◽

Research Priorities ◽

Public Health Research

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Comparing public-health research priorities in Europe

Health Research Policy and Systems ◽

10.1186/1478-4505-7-17 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Mark McCarthy ◽

Gabrielle Harvey ◽

Claudia Conceição ◽

Giuseppe la Torre ◽

Gabriel Gulis

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Health Research ◽

Research Priorities ◽

Public Health Research

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Jordan Field Epidemiology Training Program: Critical Role in National and Regional Capacity Building (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.9516 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Mohannad Al Nsour ◽

Ibrahim Iblan ◽

Mohammed Rasoul Tarawneh

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Health Workforce ◽

Mediterranean Region ◽

Training Programs ◽

Eastern Mediterranean ◽

Eastern Mediterranean Region ◽

Public Health Workforce ◽

Surveillance Systems ◽

Ministry Of Health ◽

Field Epidemiology

UNSTRUCTURED Field Epidemiology Training Programs (FETPs) are 2-year training programs in applied epidemiology, established with the purpose of increasing a country’s capacity within the public health workforce to detect and respond to health threats and develop internal expertise in field epidemiology. The Jordan Ministry of Health, in partnership with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, started the Jordan FETP (J-FETP) in 1998. Since then, it has achieved a high standard of success and has been established as a model for FETPs in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. Here we describe the J-FETP, its role in building the epidemiologic capacity of Jordan’s public health workforce, and its activities and achievements, which have grown the program to be self-sustaining within the Jordan Ministry of Health. Since its inception, the program’s residents and graduates have assisted the country to improve its surveillance systems, including revising the mortality surveillance policy, implementing the use of electronic data reporting, investigating outbreaks at national and regional levels, contributing to noncommunicable disease research and surveillance, and responding to regional emergencies and disasters. J-FETP’s structure and systems of support from the Jordan Ministry of Health and local, regional, and international partners have contributed to the success and sustainability of the J-FETP. The J-FETP has contributed significantly to improvements in surveillance systems, control of infectious diseases, outbreak investigations, and availability of reliable morbidity and mortality data in Jordan. Moreover, the program has supported public health and epidemiology in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. Best practices of the J-FETP can be applied to FETPs throughout the world.

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Epidemiology and public health research productivity in Africa

International Journal of Epidemiology ◽

10.1093/ije/dyt050 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 42 (3) ◽

pp. 913-913 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

J. Gedeon ◽

C. Shamlaye ◽

G. J. Myers ◽

P. Bovet

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Health Research ◽

Research Productivity ◽

Public Health Research ◽

Epidemiology And Public Health

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A Protocol for a Scoping Review Comparative Bibliometric Analysis of Infectious Disease Research in Africa

Frontiers in Public Health ◽

10.3389/fpubh.2021.802428 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

Author(s):

Adrianna Perryman ◽

Gebremedhin Beedemariam Gebretekle ◽

Adeteju Ogunbameru ◽

Joanna M. Bielecki ◽

Beate Sander

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Infectious Diseases ◽

Bibliometric Analysis ◽

Scoping Review ◽

Health Research ◽

Eastern Mediterranean ◽

Eastern Mediterranean Region ◽

Open Science ◽

Global Health Research ◽

Disease Research

Introduction: Evidence on authorship trends of health research conducted about or in Africa shows that there is a lack of local researchers in the first and last authorship positions, with high income country collaborations taking up these positions. The differences in authorship calls into question power imbalances in global health research and who benefits from the production of new discoveries and innovations. Health studies may further go on to inform policy and clinical practice within the region having an impact on public health. This paper aims to compare the differences in authorship between COVID-19 and relevant infectious diseases in Africa.Materials and Methods: We will conduct a bibliometric analysis comparing authorship for COVID-19 research during a public health emergency with authorship for four other infectious diseases of relevance to Africa namely: Ebola, Zika Virus (ZIKV), Tuberculosis (TB) and Influenza. Our scoping review will follow the framework developed by Arksey and O'Malley and reviewed by Levac et al. We will search MEDLINE (Ovid), African Index Medicus (AIM), Eastern Mediterranean Region (IMEMR) Index Medicus, Embase (Ovid), and Web of Science (Clarivate). We will compare the different trends of disease research between the selected diseases. This study is registered with OSF registries and is licensed with the Academic Free License version 3.0. The open science registration number is 10.17605/OSF.IO/5ZPGN.

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