Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32711568›Full record

ArticleTrials2020

Conducting clinical trials in sub-Saharan Africa: challenges and lessons learned from the Malawi Cryptosporidium study.

Neema Toto, Elaine Douglas, Markus Gmeiner, Lynn K Barrett, Robert Lindblad, Lumbani Makhaza, Wilfred Nedi, Jacob Phulusa, Gerald V Quinnan, Leigh A Sawyer and 3 more

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Trials, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 16 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
16citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
2.5field-weighted citation impact, top 12% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

16 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 33 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Review
  5. Article
  6. Review
  7. Article
  8. Article
  9. Review
  10. Article
  11. Article
  12. Article
  13. Article
  14. Opportunities and Challenges in Developing aACS infectious diseases · 2021
    Article
  15. Article
  16. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors at 3 institutions in 3 countries.

Neema TotoMalawi-Liverpool Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi.
Elaine DouglasCenter for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases (CERID), University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
Markus GmeinerMalawi-Liverpool Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi.
Lynn K BarrettCenter for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases (CERID), University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
Robert LindbladEmmes, Rockville, MD, USA.
Lumbani MakhazaMalawi-Liverpool Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi.
Wilfred NediMalawi-Liverpool Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi.
Jacob PhulusaMalawi-Liverpool Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi.
Gerald V QuinnanEmmes, Rockville, MD, USA.
Leigh A SawyerEmmes, Rockville, MD, USA.
Herbert TholeMalawi-Liverpool Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi.
Wesley C Van VoorhisCenter for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases (CERID), University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
Pui-Ying Iroh TamMalawi-Liverpool Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi. irohtam@mlw.mw.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3682-8892
University of Liverpool · GBEmmes (United States) · USUniversity of Washington · US

Funding

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation OPP1172544
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAn effective drug to treat cryptosporidial diarrhea in HIV-infected individuals is a global health priority. Promising drugs need to be evaluated in endemic areas which may be challenged by both lack of resources and experience to conduct International Committee of Harmonisation-Good Clinical Practice (ICH-GCP)-compliant clinical trials.

methodsWe present the challenges and lessons learned in implementing a phase 2A, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of clofazimine, in treatment of cryptosporidiosis among HIV-infected adults at a single site in Malawi.

resultsPrimary challenges are grouped under study initiation, study population, study implementation, and cultural issues. The lessons learned primarily deal with regulatory system and operational barriers, and recommendations can be applied to other human experimental trials in low- and middle-income countries, specifically in sub-Saharan Africa.

conclusionThis study demonstrated that initiating and implementing human experimental trials in sub-Saharan Africa can be challenging. However, solutions exist and successful execution requires careful planning, ongoing evaluation, responsiveness to new developments, and oversight of all trial operations.

Indexed as

HIV InfectionsResearch DesignAdultAnimalsClinical Trials, Phase II as TopicCryptosporidiosisCryptosporidiumDiarrheaHumansMalawiRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicClinical trialClofazimineCryptosporidiosisDeveloping countryDiarrheaLow-resource settingSub-Saharan Africa

Identifiers

PMID32711568
PMCPMC7382797
OpenAlexW3044972033

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.