Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38519097›Full record

ArticleBMJ global health2024

Aligning the principles and practice of research integrity and research fairness in global health: a mixed-methods study.

Joseph Bukulu Sempa, Rutuja Patil, Jake D Mathewson, Hannah Kabelka, Nima Yaghmaei, Harry Coleman, Preeti Sohoni, Masja Straetemans, Gowri Gopalakrishna, Martijn Wienia and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ global health, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

3 citing papers in PubMed.

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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

12 authors.

Joseph Bukulu SempaFaculty of Health Sciences, Department of Biostatistics, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa sempajb@ufs.ac.za.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1062-0417
Rutuja PatilVadu Rural Health Program, KEM Hospital Research Centre Pune, Pune, Maharashtra, India.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6390-4363
Jake D MathewsonKIT Royal Tropical Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Hannah KabelkaKIT Royal Tropical Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Nima YaghmaeiKIT Royal Tropical Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Harry ColemanKIT Royal Tropical Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Preeti SohoniVadu Rural Health Program, KEM Hospital Research Centre Pune, Pune, Maharashtra, India.
Masja StraetemansKIT Royal Tropical Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Gowri GopalakrishnaFaculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands.
Martijn WieniaNWO-WOTRO Science for Global Development, The Hague, The Netherlands.
Francis KombeEthiXPERT Proprietary NPC, Wierdapark, Pretoria, South Africa.
Sandra AlbaKIT Royal Tropical Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2435-624X

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionIn the past decade, global health research has seen a growing emphasis on research integrity and fairness. The concept of research integrity emerged in response to the reproducibility crisis in science during the late 2000s. Research fairness initiatives aim to enhance ownership and inclusivity in research involving partners with varying powers, decision-making roles and resource capacities, ultimately prioritising local health research needs. Despite extensive academic discussions, empirical data on these aspects, especially in the context of global health, remain limited.

methodsTo address this gap, we conducted a mixed-methods study focusing on research integrity and fairness. The study included an online frequency survey and in-depth key informant interviews with researchers from international research networks. The dual objectives were to quantify the frequency of practices related to research integrity and fairness and explore the determinants influencing these practices in global health.

resultsOut of 145 participants in the quantitative survey (8.4% response rate), findings indicate that global health researchers generally adhere to principles of research integrity and fairness, with variations in reported behaviours. The study identified structural, institutional and individual factors influencing these patterns, including donor landscape rigidity, institutional investments in relationship building, guidelines, mentoring and power differentials among researchers.

conclusionThis research highlights that, despite some variations, there is a substantial alignment between research integrity and fairness, with both sharing similar determinants and the overarching goal of enhancing research quality and societal benefits. The study emphasises the potential to explicitly recognise and leverage these synergies, aligning both agendas to further advance global health research.

Indexed as

Global HealthHumansReproducibility of ResultsCross-sectional surveyQualitative study

Identifiers

PMID38519097
PMCPMC10961492

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Registered trials

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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.