Establishing research priorities in prevention and control of vector-borne diseases in urban areas: a collaborative process

Christian Dagenais,Valéry Ridde,Stéphanie Degroote,Clara Bermudez-Tamayo,Mariam Otmani Del Barrio

doi:10.1186/s40249-018-0463-y

Abstract

BackgroundIn 2015, following a call for proposals from the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR), six scoping reviews on the prevention and control of vector-borne diseases in urban areas were conducted. Those reviews provided a clear picture of the available knowledge and highlighted knowledge gaps, as well as needs and opportunities for future research. Based on the research findings of the scoping reviews, a concept mapping exercise was undertaken to produce a list of priority research needs to be addressed.MethodsMembers of the six research teams responsible for the “VEctor boRne DiseAses Scoping reviews” (VERDAS) consortium’s scoping reviews met for 2 days with decision-makers from Colombia, Brazil, Peru, Pan-American Health Organization, and World Health Organization. A total of 11 researchers and seven decision-makers (from ministries of health, city and regional vector control departments, and vector control programs) completed the concept mapping, answering the question: “In view of the knowledge synthesis and your own expertise, what do we still need to know about vector-borne diseases and other infectious diseases of poverty in urban areas?” Participants rated each statement on two scales from 1 to 5, one relative to ‘priority’ and the other to ‘policy relevance’, and grouped statements into clusters based on their own individual criteria and expertise.ResultsThe final map consisted of 12 clusters. Participants considered those entitled “Equity”, “Technology”, and “Surveillance” to have the highest priority. The cluster considered the most important concerns equity issues, confirming that these issues are rarely addressed in research on vector-borne diseases. On the other hand, the “Population mobility” and “Collaboration” clusters were considered to be the lowest priority but remained identified by participants as research priorities. The average policy relevance scores for each of the 12 clusters were roughly the same as the priority scores for all clusters. Some issues were not addressed during the brain-storming. This is the case for governance and for access and quality of care.ConclusionsBased on this work, and adopting a participatory approach, the concept mapping exercise conducted collaboratively with researchers from these teams and high-level decision-makers identified research themes for which studies should be carried out as a priority.

Highlights

In 2015, following a call for proposals from the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR), six scoping reviews on the prevention and control of vector-borne diseases in urban areas were conducted
In a rapidly changing global scenario, the recent Resolution on Global Vector Control Response 2017–2030 adopted by World Health Organization (WHO) Member States in June 2017 at the World Health Assembly constitutes a strategic step forward “to strengthen vector control worldwide through increased capacity, improved surveillance, better coordination and integrated action across sectors and diseases” [3]
Using a Delphi methodology that involved 109 international experts [5], the topics selected for these reviews were: 1) field validation and implementation of rapid diagnostic testing for vector-borne and other infectious diseases of poverty in urban areas [6]; 2) effective surveillance systems for vector-borne diseases (VBDs) in urban settings and translating the data into action [7]; 3) impact, economic evaluation, and sustainability of integrated vector management in urban settings to prevent VBDs [8]; 4) VBDs in urban areas: transmission dynamics, vectorial capacity, and co-infection [9]; 5) containment measures for emerging and re-emerging vector-borne and other infectious diseases of poverty in urban settings [10]; and 6) interventions for VBDs focused on housing and hygiene in urban areas [11]

Summary

Introduction

In 2015, following a call for proposals from the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR), six scoping reviews on the prevention and control of vector-borne diseases in urban areas were conducted. Those reviews provided a clear picture of the available knowledge and highlighted knowledge gaps, as well as needs and opportunities for future research. Based on the results of the scoping reviews, and to produce a list of priority research needs to be addressed in this area, the concept mapping method was used This method has been used successfully in earlier experiences, for example, to develop conceptual frameworks [12], logic models [13], and measurement instruments [14], and to identify needs [15, 16]. This method has been used successfully in earlier experiences, for example, to develop conceptual frameworks [12], logic models [13], and measurement instruments [14], and to identify needs [15, 16]. concept mapping has been used to identify research priorities [17], and authors of the present article (Dagenais, Ridde) have demonstrated its usefulness in this regard [18, 19]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion