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Kpokiri EE, McDonald K, Abraha YG, Osorio L, Nath TC, Talavera-Urdanivia VA, Akinwale OP, Manabe YC, Castelnuovo B, Tang W, Yilma D, Mihut M, Ezechi O, Iwelunmor J, Kaba M, Abdissa A, Tucker JD. Health research mentorship in low-income and middle-income countries: a global qualitative evidence synthesis of data from a crowdsourcing open call and scoping review. BMJ Glob Health 2024; 9:e011166. [PMID: 38184299 PMCID: PMC10773352 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2022-011166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/08/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Research mentorship is critical for advancing science, but there are few practical strategies for cultivating mentorship in health research resource-limited settings. WHO/TDR Global commissioned a group to develop a practical guide on research mentorship. This global qualitative evidence synthesis included data from a crowdsourcing open call and scoping review to identify and propose strategies to enhance research mentorship in low/middle-income country (LMIC) institutions. METHODS The crowdsourcing open call used methods recommended by WHO/TDR and solicited descriptions of strategies to enhance research mentorship in LMICs. The scoping review used the Cochrane Handbook and predefined the approach in a protocol. We extracted studies focused on enhancing health research mentorship in LMICs. Textual data describing research mentorship strategies from the open call and studies from the scoping review were coded into themes. The quality of evidence supporting themes was assessed using the Confidence in the Evidence from Reviews of Qualitative research approach. RESULTS The open call solicited 46 practical strategies and the scoping review identified 77 studies. We identified the following strategies to enhance research mentorship: recognising mentorship as an institutional responsibility that should be provided and expected from all team members (8 strategies, 15 studies; moderate confidence); leveraging existing research and training resources to enhance research mentorship (15 strategies, 49 studies; moderate confidence); digital tools to match mentors and mentees and sustain mentorship relations over time (14 strategies, 11 studies; low confidence); nurturing a culture of generosity so that people who receive mentorship then become mentors to others (7 strategies, 7 studies; low confidence); peer mentorship defined as informal and formal support from one researcher to another who is at a similar career stage (16 strategies, 12 studies; low confidence). INTERPRETATION Research mentorship is a collective institutional responsibility, and it can be strengthened in resource-limited institutions by leveraging already existing resources. The evidence from the crowdsourcing open call and scoping review informed a WHO/TDR practical guide. There is a need for more formal research mentorship programmes in LMIC institutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eneyi E Kpokiri
- Clinical Research Department, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London, UK
| | - Kamryn McDonald
- Institute of Global Health and Infectious Diseases, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | | | - Lyda Osorio
- School of Public Health, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia
| | - Tilak Chandra Nath
- Department of Parasitology, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Korea (the Republic of)
- Department of Parasitology, Sylhet Agricultural University, Sylhet, Bangladesh
| | | | | | - Yukari Carol Manabe
- Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Barbara Castelnuovo
- Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Weiming Tang
- School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Daniel Yilma
- Department of Internal Medicine, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
| | - Michael Mihut
- TDR, The Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases co-sponsored by UNICEF, UNDP, the World Bank and WHO, WHO, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Oliver Ezechi
- Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Lagos, Nigeria
| | - Juliet Iwelunmor
- Saint Louis University College for Public Health and Social Justice, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Mirgissa Kaba
- School of Public Health, Addis Ababa University College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Alemseged Abdissa
- Armauer Hansen Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Joseph D Tucker
- Clinical Research Department, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London, UK
- Institute of Global Health and Infectious Diseases, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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Kaba M, Birhanu Z, Fernandez Villalobos NV, Osorio L, Echavarria MI, Berhe DF, Tucker JD, Abdissa A, Abraha YG. Health research mentorship in low- and middle-income countries: a scoping review. JBI Evid Synth 2023; 21:1912-1970. [PMID: 37461876 DOI: 10.11124/jbies-22-00260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The objective of this scoping review was to explore and synthesize the available literature on health research mentorship in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). INTRODUCTION Research mentorship is broadly considered a useful strategy to improve research capacities and research outputs. Existing literature and guidance on research mentorship have focused on high-income countries and assumed resource-rich environments. Despite the successful endeavors to improve health research capacity in LMICs, the strategies that work best under different circumstances are poorly understood. There is a need to map and understand the evidence on health research mentorship in the context of LMICs. INCLUSION CRITERIA Sources that reported existing practices, barriers, and mitigation strategies related to health research mentorship in LMICs were included. METHODS We searched for published and unpublished studies and reports written in English, Spanish, or Portuguese. The search strategy was not limited by search dates and the last search was conducted on January 28, 2022. The databases searched included MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase, Web of Science Core Collection, CINAHL (EBSCOhost), Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and JBI Evidence Synthesis . We also searched for gray literature in a selection of websites and digital repositories. The JBI scoping review methodology was used. RESULTS A total of 77 studies and reports were included in the review. The majority of the papers were from Africa (n=28). Others were from the Americas (n=7), South East Asia (n=4), East Mediterranean (n=2), and Western Pacific (n=2). The remaining studies were from LMICs that included at least 2 regional offices. Most of the mentorship projects (n=55) were initiated and funded by institutions from high-income countries. The first authors of 41 papers were primarily affiliated with LMICs. The findings were categorized under a description of research mentorship practices, barriers related to research mentorship, and suggested mitigation strategies. Deliverable-driven training using intensive hands-on mentorship and ongoing peer mentorship programs were some of the non-regular, non-institutionalized approaches used to improve research capacity for junior researchers in LMICs. None of the included papers focused on institutional components of research mentorship in LMICs. The barriers to research mentorship activities in LMICs included lack of clarity on mentorship, cultural variations, unbalanced power dynamics, socio-political influences, language barriers, lack of experienced mentors, and limited local funding. Institutionalizing research mentorship, adapting mentoring methodologies relying on local resources, and addressing and respecting diversity in mentorship programs were among the main strategies identified to effectively implement research mentorship in LMICs. CONCLUSIONS Research mentorship initiatives and practices are limited in LMICs. Few available practices have been introduced by researchers and research institutions from high-income countries and those that have are not yet institutionalized. The identified existing practices, barriers, and facilitators on health research mentorship could help the design, implementation, and evaluation of programs to institutionalize health research mentorship in LMICs. REVIEW REGISTRATION Open Science Framework osf.io/jqa9z/. SUPPLEMENTAL DIGITAL CONTENT A Spanish-language version of the abstract of this review is available as supplemental digital content: http://links.lww.com/SRX/A32.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirgissa Kaba
- School of Public Health, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Zewdie Birhanu
- Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Public Health Faculty, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
- Ethiopian Evidence Based Healthcare and Development Centre: a JBI Center of Excellence, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
| | | | | | - Maria Isabel Echavarria
- Centro Internacional de Entrenamiento e Investigaciones Medicas (CIDEIM), Cali, Colombia
- Universidad Icesi, Cali, Colombia
| | - Derbew Fikadu Berhe
- School of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Joseph D Tucker
- Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | | | - Yoseph Gebreyohannes Abraha
- Knowledge Translation Directorate, Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Ethiopian Knowledge Translation Group for Health: a JBI Affiliated Group, The Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Perier C, Nasinghe E, Charles I, Ssetaba LJ, Ahyong V, Bangs D, Beatty PR, Czudnochowski N, Diallo A, Dugan E, Fabius JM, Fong Baker H, Gardner J, Isaacs S, Joanah B, Kalantar K, Kateete D, Knight M, Krasilnikov M, Krogan NJ, Langelier C, Lee E, Li LM, Licht D, Lien K, Lyons Z, Mboowa G, Mwebaza I, Mwesigwa S, Nalwadda G, Nichols R, Penaranda ME, Petnic S, Phelps M, Popper SJ, Rape M, Reingold A, Robbins R, Rosenberg OS, Savage DF, Schildhauer S, Settles ML, Sserwadda I, Stanley S, Tato CM, Tsitsiklis A, Van Dis E, Vanaerschot M, Vinden J, Cox JS, Joloba ML, Schaletzky J. Workshop-based learning and networking: a scalable model for research capacity strengthening in low- and middle-income countries. Glob Health Action 2022; 15:2062175. [PMID: 35730550 PMCID: PMC9225690 DOI: 10.1080/16549716.2022.2062175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Science education and research have the potential to drive profound change in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) through encouraging innovation, attracting industry, and creating job opportunities. However, in LMICs, research capacity is often limited, and acquisition of funding and access to state-of-the-art technologies is challenging. The Alliance for Global Health and Science (the Alliance) was founded as a partnership between the University of California, Berkeley (USA) and Makerere University (Uganda), with the goal of strengthening Makerere University’s capacity for bioscience research. The flagship program of the Alliance partnership is the MU/UCB Biosciences Training Program, an in-country, hands-on workshop model that trains a large number of students from Makerere University in infectious disease and molecular biology research. This approach nucleates training of larger and more diverse groups of students, development of mentoring and bi-directional research partnerships, and support of the local economy. Here, we describe the project, its conception, implementation, challenges, and outcomes of bioscience research workshops. We aim to provide a blueprint for workshop implementation, and create a valuable resource for bioscience research capacity strengthening in LMICs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celine Perier
- H. Wheeler Center for Emerging & Neglected Diseases (CEND), University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | | | - Isabelle Charles
- H. Wheeler Center for Emerging & Neglected Diseases (CEND), University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | | | - Vida Ahyong
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Derek Bangs
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - P Robert Beatty
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | | | - Amy Diallo
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Eli Dugan
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Jacqueline M Fabius
- Quantitative Biosciences Institute (QBI), University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Hildy Fong Baker
- School of Public Health, Center for Global Public Health (CGPH), University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Jackson Gardner
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | - Birungi Joanah
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | - David Kateete
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Matt Knight
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Maria Krasilnikov
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Tufts Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nevan J Krogan
- Quantitative Biosciences Institute (QBI), University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Gladstone Institute of Data Science and Biotechnology, J. David Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | - Eric Lee
- Graduate Group in Infectious Diseases and Immunity, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Lucy M Li
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Daniel Licht
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Katie Lien
- Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Zilose Lyons
- California China Climate Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Gerald Mboowa
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Ivan Mwebaza
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | | | - Robert Nichols
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | | | - Sarah Petnic
- Quality and Clinical Excellence Department, Providence Queen of the Valley Medical Center, Napa, CA, USA
| | | | - Stephen J Popper
- Sustainable Sciences Institute, San Francisco, CA, USA.,School of Public Health, Department of Infectious Disease and Vaccinology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Michael Rape
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Arthur Reingold
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | | | - Oren S Rosenberg
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - David F Savage
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Ivan Sserwadda
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Sarah Stanley
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA.,Division of Infectious Disease and Vaccinology, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Erik Van Dis
- Department of Immunology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Joanna Vinden
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunity, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Jeffery S Cox
- H. Wheeler Center for Emerging & Neglected Diseases (CEND), University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA.,Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Moses L Joloba
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Julia Schaletzky
- H. Wheeler Center for Emerging & Neglected Diseases (CEND), University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
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