SynthesisBMJ global health2021
Defining global health: findings from a systematic review and thematic analysis of the literature.
Synthesis in BMJ global health, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 44 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled 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.
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
44 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- What do we talk about when we talk about ecological determinants of health? A systematic review.BMC public health · 2026Pooled it
- Defining Urbanicity in the Context of Psychosis Research: A Qualitative Systematic Literature Review.Schizophrenia bulletin · 2025Pooled it
- A review and analysis of accountability in global health funding, research collaborations and training: towards conceptual clarity and better practice.BMJ global health · 2023Pooled it
- Toward QoS Monitoring in IoT Edge Devices Driven Healthcare-A Systematic Literature Review.Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Pooled it
- Where Environment and Healthcare Meet: Air Pollution, Antibiotic Use, and Mortality in an Ageing Population in Southern Italy.Medical sciences (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Decarbonizing the Spanish Health System: A Qualitative Study on the Implementation of Environmental Regulations and Management Strategies in Health Institutions.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Prevention as a Pillar of Communicable Disease Control: Strategies for Equity, Surveillance, and One Health Integration.Epidemiologia (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Meanings and practices of solidarity in global health: a qualitative investigation - study protocol.BMJ open · 2026Article
- Mapping Slovenia's global health engagement: alignment with European Union and national global health strategies.Journal of health, population, and nutrition · 2026Review
- Article
- The Architecture of Decolonial Partnerships in University Global Health Program Development.Annals of global health · 2026Review
- Re-imagining Global Health: perspectives from the next generation in the Pacific region.The Lancet regional health. Western Pacific · 2026Review
- An updated definition of global health.Global health research and policy · 2025Article
- Health from a health promotion perspective: a concept analysis.Journal of health, population, and nutrition · 2025Review
- How to (or how not to)…Enhance equity in the conduct of global health research: dimensions and directions for organizations.Health policy and planning · 2025Article
- Creating different global health futures: mapping the health research ecosystem and taking decolonial action.BMC health services research · 2025Article
- Article
- Advancing equity in global health: a call for collaborative research partnerships.Frontiers in health services · 2025Article
- Interprofessional education: A recognized necessity, a persistent challenge - Perspectives from a longitudinal study.PloS one · 2025Article
- Reimagining Global Health: Accelerating Change for a Sustainable Future.Annals of global health · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionDebate around a common definition of global health has seen extensive scholarly interest within the last two decades; however, consensus around a precise definition remains elusive. The objective of this study was to systematically review definitions of global health in the literature and offer grounded theoretical insights into what might be seen as relevant for establishing a common definition of global health.
methodA systematic review was conducted with qualitative synthesis of findings using peer-reviewed literature from key databases. Publications were identified by the keywords of 'global health' and 'define' or 'definition' or 'defining'. Coding methods were used for qualitative analysis to identify recurring themes in definitions of global health published between 2009 and 2019.
resultsThe search resulted in 1363 publications, of which 78 were included. Qualitative analysis of the data generated four theoretical categories and associated subthemes delineating key aspects of global health. These included: (1) global health is a multiplex approach to worldwide health improvement taught and pursued at research institutions; (2) global health is an ethically oriented initiative that is guided by justice principles; (3) global health is a mode of governance that yields influence through problem identification, political decision-making, as well as the allocation and exchange of resources across borders and (4) global health is a vague yet versatile concept with multiple meanings, historical antecedents and an emergent future.
conclusionExtant definitions of global health can be categorised thematically to designate areas of importance for stakeholders and to organise future debates on its definition. Future contributions to this debate may consider shifting from questioning the abstract 'what' of global health towards more pragmatic and reflexive questions about 'who' defines global health and towards what ends.
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What OpenQuestion holds
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.