ReviewGlobalization and health2018
Guidelines for responsible short-term global health activities: developing common principles.
Review in Globalization and health, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 35 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
35 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Are you ready? A systematic review of pre-departure resources for global health electives.BMC medical education · 2019Pooled it
- The ethical experiences of trainees on short-term international trips: a systematic qualitative synthesis.BMC medical education · 2018Pooled it
- "We will get to…assist the staff of the hospital": comparatively exploring the motivations of pre-medical and medical students from Global North countries for seeking to participate in Ghanaian medical missions.BMC health services research · 2026Article
- Improving medical missions: A student and trainee tool for ethical engagement.PLOS global public health · 2026Article
- Host Country Views of Short-Term Medical Missions: Community-Based Research in Ghana, Uganda, and Guatemala.Annals of global health · 2026Article
- Efficacy of a Novel, Self-Paced, Online Global Health Track Curriculum for Medical Residents.Cureus · 2025Article
- Promoting More Equitable Global Health Research, Education, and Community Partnerships: The Efforts of One US‑Based Academic Institution.Annals of global health · 2025Article
- Host Country Regulation of Short-Term Medical Missions: Evidence from Three Countries.Annals of global health · 2025Article
- Defining humanitarian surgery: international consensus in global surgery.The British journal of surgery · 2024Article
- "Enhancing equitable impact: ethical, legal, and sustainable approaches in short-term surgical outreach for global child health".Frontiers in pediatrics · 2024Review
- An Exploratory Study of Physical Therapists From High-Income Countries Practising Outside of Their Scope in Low and Middle-Income Countries.Journal of bioethical inquiry · 2023Article
- Global competency impact of sustained remote international engagement for students.BMC medical education · 2023Article
- Avoiding Unethical Altruism in Global Health: Revisiting Ethics Guidelines for International Rotations for Medical Residents.Journal of graduate medical education · 2023Article
- Impacts, Learner Diversity, and Curricular Framework of a Virtual Global Health Elective Catalyzed by the COVID-19 Pandemic.Annals of global health · 2023Article
- Impact and Sustainability of Foreign Medical Aid: A Qualitative Study with Honduran Healthcare Providers.Annals of global health · 2023Article
- Capacity Building During Short-Term Surgical Outreach Trips: A Review of What Guidelines Exist.World journal of surgery · 2023Review
- Guidelines for short-term medical missions: perspectives from host countries.Globalization and health · 2022Article
- An Online Ethics Curriculum for Short-Term Global Health Experiences: Evaluating a Decade of Use.Annals of global health · 2022Article
- Taking Pause: A COVID-19 Student Reflection on Global Health Research Opportunities, Training, and Institutional Reform.Frontiers in sociology · 2022Article
- Global Health Partnerships and the Brocher Declaration: Principles for Ethical Short-Term Engagements in Global Health.Annals of global health · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
9 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundGrowing concerns about the value and effectiveness of short-term volunteer trips intending to improve health in underserved Global South communities has driven the development of guidelines by multiple organizations and individuals. These are intended to mitigate potential harms and maximize benefits associated with such efforts.
methodThis paper analyzes 27 guidelines derived from a scoping review of the literature available in early 2017, describing their authorship, intended audiences, the aspects of short term medical missions (STMMs) they address, and their attention to guideline implementation. It further considers how these guidelines relate to the desires of host communities, as seen in studies of host country staff who work with volunteers.
resultsExisting guidelines are almost entirely written by and addressed to educators and practitioners in the Global North. There is broad consensus on key principles for responsible, effective, and ethical programs--need for host partners, proper preparation and supervision of visitors, needs assessment and evaluation, sustainability, and adherence to pertinent legal and ethical standards. Host country staff studies suggest agreement with the main elements of this guideline consensus, but they add the importance of mutual learning and respect for hosts.
conclusionsGuidelines must be informed by research and policy directives from host countries that is now mostly absent. Also, a comprehensive strategy to support adherence to best practice guidelines is needed, given limited regulation and enforcement capacity in host country contexts and strong incentives for involved stakeholders to undertake or host STMMs that do not respect key principles.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.