Article type
Abstract
Background: Throughout history, the occurrence and rapid transmission of infectious diseases in the form of pandemics have had a significant impact on humanity and various sectors of development. These pandemics have consistently highlighted the urgent need to identify effective preparedness measures and strong health policies to promptly address and mitigate the detrimental consequences they entail.
Objective:The objective of this paper was to create a comprehensive map of available evidence resources pertaining to a specific set of pandemics. By doing so, the paper aimed to prevent redundancy in primary research and identify priority areas for future research endeavors. The intention was to provide an overview of these resources, facilitating a more focused approach towards addressing key research gaps in the field.
Approach:The literature search utilized Google and selected agency websites like WHO, the Centres for Disease Control and COVID-End. A snowballing approach was employed to gather relevant evidence resources.A total of 802 evidence resources were obtained through the search process. Following a stepwise screening process, 496 resources were deemed relevant and included in the map.
Primary conclusions: The map reveals an inadequacy of evidence resources for several pandemics, including Nipa and henipaviral diseases, SARS, swine flu (H1N1), Zika, arenaviral haemorrhagic fevers, Chikungunya, Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever, Ebola and Marburg, emergent non-polio enteroviruses (including EV71, D668), Hong Kong flu (influenza A/H3N2), and MERS.
Each of these areas had fewer than 50 evidence resources available, indicating a lack of sufficient evidence and highlighting the need for consolidated research and policy efforts to prepare for the recurrence of these pandemics.
The majority of the evidence resources focus on transmission, prevention and management, disease burden, and virology. However, significant gaps exist in areas such as social economic impact, behavioral response, gender and equity, health system organization, and evidence systems.
Research and policy attention should be directed towards these topics as shortcomings in these areas can undermine the effectiveness of therapeutic and preventive measures.
The map provides valuable insights into the strengths and weaknesses of the available evidence system for various pandemics, offering guidance for policy development and areas requiring attention in preparation for the listed pandemics.
Objective:The objective of this paper was to create a comprehensive map of available evidence resources pertaining to a specific set of pandemics. By doing so, the paper aimed to prevent redundancy in primary research and identify priority areas for future research endeavors. The intention was to provide an overview of these resources, facilitating a more focused approach towards addressing key research gaps in the field.
Approach:The literature search utilized Google and selected agency websites like WHO, the Centres for Disease Control and COVID-End. A snowballing approach was employed to gather relevant evidence resources.A total of 802 evidence resources were obtained through the search process. Following a stepwise screening process, 496 resources were deemed relevant and included in the map.
Primary conclusions: The map reveals an inadequacy of evidence resources for several pandemics, including Nipa and henipaviral diseases, SARS, swine flu (H1N1), Zika, arenaviral haemorrhagic fevers, Chikungunya, Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever, Ebola and Marburg, emergent non-polio enteroviruses (including EV71, D668), Hong Kong flu (influenza A/H3N2), and MERS.
Each of these areas had fewer than 50 evidence resources available, indicating a lack of sufficient evidence and highlighting the need for consolidated research and policy efforts to prepare for the recurrence of these pandemics.
The majority of the evidence resources focus on transmission, prevention and management, disease burden, and virology. However, significant gaps exist in areas such as social economic impact, behavioral response, gender and equity, health system organization, and evidence systems.
Research and policy attention should be directed towards these topics as shortcomings in these areas can undermine the effectiveness of therapeutic and preventive measures.
The map provides valuable insights into the strengths and weaknesses of the available evidence system for various pandemics, offering guidance for policy development and areas requiring attention in preparation for the listed pandemics.