Abstract
Research is essential for evidence-based decision making. This study aimed to identify research priorities in the areas of field epidemiology and public health in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) from the perspectives of public health professionals. A Delphi technique, using online survey, was employed to reach 168 public health professionals who have experience in the EMR countries. The study took place between November 2019 and January 2020. Consensus on the research priorities was reached after two-round online questionnaires. A list of top 10 field epidemiology and public health research priorities in the EMR was developed. Of those priorities, four fell under health in emergency, war and armed conflict, two under communicable diseases, two under immunization, one under digital health, and one under sexual, reproductive, and adolescent health. Availability, adequacy, and quality of health services in crisis settings were scored as a top priority (mean = 4.4, rank 1), followed by use of technology to improve the collection, documentation, and analysis of health data (mean = 4.28, rank 2), and capacity of countries in the region to respond to emergencies (mean = 4.25, rank 3). This study was conducted prior to COVID-19 pandemic and, thus, it did not capture COVID-19 research as a priority area. Nevertheless, identified priorities under communicable diseases including outbreak investigation of infectious diseases, epidemics and challenges related to communicable diseases in the EMR were still notable. In conclusion, the field epidemiology and public health research priorities identified in this study through a systematic inclusive process could be useful to make informed decisions and gear the research efforts to improve the health of people in the EMR.
Highlights
Strengthening the field epidemiology and public health services in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) is a top priority nowadays due to several health challenges that resulted from political conflicts, environmental threats and natural disasters [1]
This study aimed to identify research priorities in the areas of field epidemiology and public health in the EMR from the perspectives of public health professionals
We included a total of 168 public health professionals from all countries of the region representing different institutions, including ministries of health and academia, who were involved in Field Epidemiology Training Programs (FETPs), local and/or national level public health programs, and/or research entities in the EMR countries
Summary
Strengthening the field epidemiology and public health services in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) is a top priority nowadays due to several health challenges that resulted from political conflicts, environmental threats and natural disasters [1]. The recent COVID-19 pandemic clearly revealed the fragility of health systems in many EMR countries, especially conflictaffected countries [2, 3]. Research is a vital tool that enables the improvement of health and health equity in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), taking into consideration the critical needs and importance of sustainable development outcomes in these countries [4, 5]. In LMICs, research should be prioritized to respond directly to community health needs. There is a risk that research conducted in LMICs will be according to funders’ agendas, distort national priorities, undermine the role of national research in LMIC or fail to respond to explicit health needs [4, 6]. If research priorities are not set, researchers and research sponsors cannot align their activities with national health and development goals [4]
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