Article type
Year
Abstract
Background: Researchers in sub-Saharan Africa have limited knowledge and skills to conduct systematic evidence syntheses. The 'Africa Centre' at Makerere University, College of Health Sciences Uganda was set up to address this gap in the East African region.
Objectives: To describe our experience in building teams of systematic reviewers in Uganda and the East African Community.
Methods: Design: We administered a sequential three-phase course to two groups of scientists from 13 research and teaching institutions in Africa (started Aug 2013 and Dec 2015). These modules consisted of a self-driven introductory learning about systematic reviews for 10 and 21 days respectively: phase 1: face-to-face didactic lectures and hands-on group work for five days at Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; phase 2: technical support (Skype calls, online metorship) in conducting systematic reviews until publication of the review report (>18 months). Outcome measures: Systematic reviewing activities including: question identification, protocol development, protocol registration, review execution, publication, and grant application.
Results: Participants (n = 51) came from eight countries including Rwanda (4), Ethiopia (1), Botswana (3), Southern Sudan (1), Tanzania (4), Kenya (4), Cameroon (1) and Uganda (33). Twenty-one (41%) were female scientists. Forty-eight (94%) and 51 (100%) completed the self-driven introductory learning and face-to-face sessions respectively. During this period, participants identified 16 new potential review questions. Three new protocols have been registered in PROSPERO and one with Cochrane HIV group; three new protocols are under development whilst three older protocols were revived and under conduct. Only one review is published and only one of three new systematic review grant application attempts have been successful.
Conclusions: These preliminary results depict some progress in the quest to build systematic review teams in the East African Community. In our next steps we aim to collaborate with the South African Cochrane Centre to conduct a data synthesis (GRADE: Grading of Recommendations Assessment) and manuscript writing workshop.
Objectives: To describe our experience in building teams of systematic reviewers in Uganda and the East African Community.
Methods: Design: We administered a sequential three-phase course to two groups of scientists from 13 research and teaching institutions in Africa (started Aug 2013 and Dec 2015). These modules consisted of a self-driven introductory learning about systematic reviews for 10 and 21 days respectively: phase 1: face-to-face didactic lectures and hands-on group work for five days at Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; phase 2: technical support (Skype calls, online metorship) in conducting systematic reviews until publication of the review report (>18 months). Outcome measures: Systematic reviewing activities including: question identification, protocol development, protocol registration, review execution, publication, and grant application.
Results: Participants (n = 51) came from eight countries including Rwanda (4), Ethiopia (1), Botswana (3), Southern Sudan (1), Tanzania (4), Kenya (4), Cameroon (1) and Uganda (33). Twenty-one (41%) were female scientists. Forty-eight (94%) and 51 (100%) completed the self-driven introductory learning and face-to-face sessions respectively. During this period, participants identified 16 new potential review questions. Three new protocols have been registered in PROSPERO and one with Cochrane HIV group; three new protocols are under development whilst three older protocols were revived and under conduct. Only one review is published and only one of three new systematic review grant application attempts have been successful.
Conclusions: These preliminary results depict some progress in the quest to build systematic review teams in the East African Community. In our next steps we aim to collaborate with the South African Cochrane Centre to conduct a data synthesis (GRADE: Grading of Recommendations Assessment) and manuscript writing workshop.