TY - JOUR
T1 - Quality, equity and partnerships in mixed methods and qualitative research during seven years of implementing the structured operational research and training initiative in 18 countries
AU - Zachariah, Rony
AU - Abrahamyan, Arpine
AU - Rust, Stefanie
AU - Thekkur, Pruthu
AU - Khogali, Mohammed
AU - Kumar, Ajay M V
AU - Davtyan, Hayk
AU - Satyanarayana, Srinath
AU - Shewade, Hemant D
AU - Delamou, Alexandre
AU - Zolfo, Maria
AU - Hermans, Veerle
AU - Berger, Selma Dar
AU - Reid, Anthony
AU - Aseffa, Abraham
AU - Dongre, Amol R
AU - Harries, Anthony D
AU - Reeder, John C
N1 - FTX; DOAJ; (CC BY 4.0)
PY - 2022
Y1 - 2022
N2 - Introduction: Qualitative studies are often inadequately reported, making it difficult to judge their appropriateness for decision making in public health. We assessed the publication characteristics and quality of reporting of qualitative and mixed-method studies from the Structured Operational Research and Training Initiative (SORT IT), a global partnership for operational research capacity building. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of publications to assess the qualitative component using an adapted version of the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) checklist. Results: In 67 publications involving 18 countries, 32 journals and 13 public health themes, 55 were mixed-methods studies and 12 were qualitative studies. First authorship from low-and-middle-income (LMIC) countries was present in 64 (96%), LMIC last authorship in 55 (82%), and female first authorship in 30 (45%). The mean LMIC institutions represented per publication was five (range 1-11). Sixty-three (94%) publications were open access. Reporting quality was graded as 'good' to 'excellent' in 60 (89%) publications, 'fair' in five (8%) and 'poor' in two (3%). Conclusion: Most SORT IT publications adhered to COREQ standards, while supporting gender equity in authorship and the promotion of LMIC research leadership. SORT IT plays an important role in ensuring quality of evidence for decision making to improve public health.
AB - Introduction: Qualitative studies are often inadequately reported, making it difficult to judge their appropriateness for decision making in public health. We assessed the publication characteristics and quality of reporting of qualitative and mixed-method studies from the Structured Operational Research and Training Initiative (SORT IT), a global partnership for operational research capacity building. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of publications to assess the qualitative component using an adapted version of the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) checklist. Results: In 67 publications involving 18 countries, 32 journals and 13 public health themes, 55 were mixed-methods studies and 12 were qualitative studies. First authorship from low-and-middle-income (LMIC) countries was present in 64 (96%), LMIC last authorship in 55 (82%), and female first authorship in 30 (45%). The mean LMIC institutions represented per publication was five (range 1-11). Sixty-three (94%) publications were open access. Reporting quality was graded as 'good' to 'excellent' in 60 (89%) publications, 'fair' in five (8%) and 'poor' in two (3%). Conclusion: Most SORT IT publications adhered to COREQ standards, while supporting gender equity in authorship and the promotion of LMIC research leadership. SORT IT plays an important role in ensuring quality of evidence for decision making to improve public health.
U2 - 10.3390/tropicalmed7100305
DO - 10.3390/tropicalmed7100305
M3 - A1: Web of Science-article
C2 - 36288046
SN - 2414-6366
VL - 7
JO - Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease
JF - Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease
IS - 10
M1 - 305
ER -