ArticlePLOS global public health2026
Postgraduate medical education in fragile conflict-affected settings: A scoping review.
Article in PLOS global public health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
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
1 citing paper in PubMed.
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
Postgraduate medical education (PGME) is a vital pillar of health system resilience, yet it faces catastrophic disruption in Fragile Conflict-Affected settings. This review maps the fragmented body of evidence (current practices, challenges, quality indicators, and accreditation mechanisms), synthesizes insights, and highlights research and policy gaps within PGME programs in these environments. This scoping review was guided by Arksey & O'Malley, Levac et al., and PRISMA-ScR methodological frameworks. A comprehensive search was run across academic databases with additional searches of relevant organizational websites, and library catalogues to uncover grey literature. Elicit (AI) was used as a complementary search tool. The search included studies published between January 2015 and August 2025. Thematic analysis was applied to synthesize the evidence. Of 252 unique records identified, 32 met the inclusion criteria. In terms of geographical location, the countries most frequently reported on were Syria and Ukraine, with the majority of studies taking place over the last three years. Four primary themes were identified: Current Practices and Adaptations, Challenges, Quality and Accreditation, and Innovations and Resilience. Studies and reports from Syria, Ukraine, and Sudan highlighted divergent adaptive pathways, from institutional resilience and frontline training to severe fragmentation and reliance on external support. Consistently, the body of literature is scarce due to systemic barriers (brain drain, research destruction, ethical hurdles). Quality and accreditation emerged as the weakest pillar, often relying on subjective evaluations. PGME in FCA settings demonstrates adaptability through innovations like virtual curricula and diaspora partnerships, yet it is characterized by fragmented evidence and a critical lack of quality assurance. Six recommendations are proposed, focused on institutionalizing resilience models, strengthening program legitimacy through hybrid, internationally benchmarked accreditation [World Federation for Medical Education and Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education standards], and integrating mental health and peacebuilding competencies to ensure long-term health system recovery and stability.
Identifiers
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.