ArticleBMJ open2022
Opportunities and challenges to non-communicable disease (NCD) research and training in Pakistan: a qualitative study from Pakistan.
Article in BMJ open, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
10 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- A comparative systematic review of risk factors, prevalence, and challenges contributing to non-communicable diseases in South Asia, Africa, and Caribbeans.Journal of health, population, and nutrition · 2024Pooled it
- Student Perceptions of the School eHealth Education Program Pakistan (eSHEPP): A Qualitative Study of Acceptability, Feasibility, and Awareness of Non-Communicable Diseases.Research square · 2026Article
- Facilitators and barriers to physical activity among older adults in Karachi - a qualitative exploratory study.BMC geriatrics · 2026Article
- Article
- School eHealth education program Pakistan (eSHEPP): an exploratory qualitative study of stakeholder perspectives on design, barriers, and facilitators.Journal of health, population, and nutrition · 2025Article
- School eHealth Education Program Pakistan (eSHEPP) to improve NCDs awareness in adolescents from urban Pakistan: a mixed method design protocol.Journal of health, population, and nutrition · 2025Article
- School eHealth Education Program Pakistan (eSHEPP): An Exploratory Qualitative Study of Stakeholder Perspectives on Design, Barriers, and Facilitators.Research square · 2025Article
- Non-communicable diseases challenges and opportunities in Iran: a qualitative study.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- The current state of primary healthcare in Pakistan: a way forward for low-to-middle income countries.Primary health care research & development · 2024Review
- Challenges and enablers for scaling up interventions targeting non-communicable diseases: a qualitative study applying the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research to 19 research projects worldwide.BMJ public health · 2024Article
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Authors and funding
14 authors.
Funding
Abstract
introductionMost of the global non-communicable disease (NCD)-related death burden is borne by low and middle-income countries (LMICs). In LMICs like Pakistan, however, a major gap in responding to NCDs is a lack of high-quality research leading to policy development and implementation of NCDs. To assess institutional opportunities and constraints to NCD research and training we conducted a situational analysis for NCD research and training at Aga Khan University Pakistan.
methodsWe conducted a descriptive exploratory study using grounded theory as a qualitative approach: semistructured interviews of 16 NCD stakeholders (three excluded) and two focus group discussions with postgraduate and undergraduate trainees were conducted. A simple thematic analysis was done where themes were identified, and then recurring ideas were critically placed in their specific themes and refined based on the consensus of the investigators.
resultsThe major themes derived were priority research areas in NCDs; methods to improve NCD research integration; barriers to NCD research in LMICs like Pakistan; design of NCD research programme and career paths; and NCD prevention at mass level, policy and link to the government. In general, participants opined that while there was an appetite for NCD research and training, but few high-quality research training programmes in NCDs existed, such programmes needed to be established. The ideal NCD research and training programmes would have in-built protected time, career guidance and dedicated mentorship. Most participants identified cardiovascular diseases as a priority thematic area and health information technology and data science as key methodological approaches to be introduced into research training.
conclusionWe conclude from this qualitative study on NCD research and training that high-quality research training programmes for NCDs are rare. Such programmes need to be established with in-built protected time, career guidance and mentorship for the trainees to improve their research capacity in Pakistan.
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