Article type
Year
Abstract
Background:
Cochrane Reviews aim to produce evidence for healthcare practice globally including India. We wish to assess the contribution of studies that originated in India in developing these systematic reviews in the field of obstetrics and gynecology.
Objective:
To determine the number of studies of Indian origin in obstetrics and gynecology that provided conclusive data and hence, contributed towards formulating Cochrane Reviews in obstetrics and gynecology.
Methods:
A total of 930 Cochrane Reviews were accessed from the gynecological and pregnancy and childbirth list of Cochrane health topics. The details of included studies for each review were then accessed from references section. Studies of Indian origin were identified from this list and their numbers calculated.
Results: A total of 930 Cochrane Reviews are available in the field of obstetrics and gynecology: in gynecology, 32 of a total 424 reviews - and for obstetrics 61 of 506 reviews - had Indian studies included for meta-analysis. Only 63 studies of Indian origin qualified for inclusion in gynecology and 137 in obstetrics. The focus in gynecology was subfertility and fertility regulation, each having 17 and 14 studies respectively, while there were 23 and 25 studies each for role of prostaglandins in obstetrics and in postpartum hemorrhage, with duplicating mentions. The overlapping studies were counted only once.
Conclusions:
There is an urgent continuing need for high quality research and its publication in India. Going by the miniscule contribution of the studies of Indian origin, it is evident that building awareness amongst the Obstetricians and Gynecologists is urgently needed. Better quality studies are especially required in specific areas that pose a challenge in our country to improve healthcare practices.
Cochrane Reviews aim to produce evidence for healthcare practice globally including India. We wish to assess the contribution of studies that originated in India in developing these systematic reviews in the field of obstetrics and gynecology.
Objective:
To determine the number of studies of Indian origin in obstetrics and gynecology that provided conclusive data and hence, contributed towards formulating Cochrane Reviews in obstetrics and gynecology.
Methods:
A total of 930 Cochrane Reviews were accessed from the gynecological and pregnancy and childbirth list of Cochrane health topics. The details of included studies for each review were then accessed from references section. Studies of Indian origin were identified from this list and their numbers calculated.
Results: A total of 930 Cochrane Reviews are available in the field of obstetrics and gynecology: in gynecology, 32 of a total 424 reviews - and for obstetrics 61 of 506 reviews - had Indian studies included for meta-analysis. Only 63 studies of Indian origin qualified for inclusion in gynecology and 137 in obstetrics. The focus in gynecology was subfertility and fertility regulation, each having 17 and 14 studies respectively, while there were 23 and 25 studies each for role of prostaglandins in obstetrics and in postpartum hemorrhage, with duplicating mentions. The overlapping studies were counted only once.
Conclusions:
There is an urgent continuing need for high quality research and its publication in India. Going by the miniscule contribution of the studies of Indian origin, it is evident that building awareness amongst the Obstetricians and Gynecologists is urgently needed. Better quality studies are especially required in specific areas that pose a challenge in our country to improve healthcare practices.