Program Evaluation Research Articles

Assessing genomics confidence and learning needs in Australian nurses and midwives: an educational program evaluation.

Introduction: The mainstreaming of genomics across healthcare specialties necessitates that all nurses and midwives have a high literacy in genomics. Methods: We aimed to design, develop, implement and evaluate a genomics education workshop for nurses and midwives using action research principles. Results: Registered nurses and midwives completed an online survey regarding genomics confidence and learning needs (n = 274). The results of this survey were used to develop the genomics education workshop. The workshop was run three times (n = 105) with evaluation data being collected both before and after each workshop. Significant improvements in confidence across all learning domains was found following the workshops (p < 0.001). A desire for more education across all learning domains except for genetics knowledge was also identified (p < 0.001). Discussion: Genomics education workshops were found to increase the confidence of nurses and midwives across a range of specialties. Nurses and midwives also expressed a desire for further education in genomics.

Diverting 911 calls: Lessons from early adopting urban jurisdictions

AbstractResearch SummaryTwo perceptions drive interest in finding ways of diverting more 911 calls from police to civilian first responders: (1) police responses can result in inadvertent harm to citizens and (2) many calls to which police respond require services that police often cannot provide. Thus, using other personnel may improve police–citizen relations and strengthen crime fighting by reducing extraneous police burden. Using a case study design, we conducted formative evaluations of programs that have developed beyond pilots in three large U.S. cities: Albuquerque, Atlanta, and Houston. In each city, we interviewed officials, program operators, and other stakeholders and reviewed program documents and statistics. We detail the events and forces that led to the establishment of each program, the way in which the programs have been institutionalized, and the way they interact with the Police Department. We then discuss key lessons learned for these jurisdictions.Policy ImplicationsMany U.S. cities are considering diverting some emergency calls for service from police to civilian first responders. This analysis provides evidence to aid policy makers, researchers, and other stakeholders in the development and evaluation of community responder programs. In all respects, we find that cities’ unique experiences inform program design. For example, in Albuquerque, a City Hall‐driven initiative established a new city agency parallel to the Police Department. In Atlanta, decarceration activists drove the initiative; the program is a city/county‐funded nonprofit, more fragile in its funding. Risk aversion among call takers and dispatchers has led to low call diversion rates across all sites, but training and collaboration have shown promise to resolve this problem. Public safety officials external to the diversion programs commonly expressed concerns about first responder safety and perceptions that police are expected when 911 is called. This risk aversion has led to slower‐than‐expected expansion of the program within each city.

МІСЦЕ АДАПТИВНОЇ ФІЗИЧНОЇ КУЛЬТУРИ В ПРОЦЕСІ ПІДГОТОВКИ МАЙБУТНІХ ФАХІВЦІВ З ФІЗИЧНОГО ВИХОВАННЯ ВЗАРУБІЖНИХ КРАЇНАХ

The purpose of the research was to analyze the place and content of adaptive physical culture in the programs of training bachelors in physical education in foreign countries (based on the material of English-speaking countries). Material and methods. We searched for educational programs for obtaining a bachelor's degree in physical education available in 2024 in the USA, Great Britain and Ireland using the online service. The search was carried out by setting the following filters: Field of study - "Education", in particular, "Teaching", "Physical education"; Location - USA, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Ireland; Degree type – "Bachelor", "Bachelor of Science", "Bachelor of Arts". In total,8 educational programs were analyzed, in particular, 6 in the USA and 1 each in Great Britain and Ireland. The following methods were used in the research process: summarization of data from scientific and methodical literature and Internet sources, analysis and synthesis of the obtained information. Results and key conclusions. The vast majority of bachelor's degree programs in the USA, Great Britain and Ireland are designed for 2, 3 or 4 years of higher education and include at least 120 credits. At least 2.5 % of ECTS credits from the total volume of the educational program are allocated to the study of adaptive physical culture (between 3 and 6 ECTS credits). The content of educational programs in English-speaking countries (USA, Great Britain, Ireland) includes the study of adaptive physical culture by students within such disciplines as "Adaptive physical education", "Physical education for students with disabilities", "Introduction to adaptive physical education", "Adaptive physical culture and sport", "Assessment and Program Evaluation in Adapted Physical Education", "Inclusive sport and physicalactivity", "Adaptive physical education and physical activity".

Effectiveness of Village Fund Utilization in Supporting Rural Development (Case Study of Punti Village, Soromandi Subdistrict, Bima Regency, West Nusa Tenggara)

This study aims to analyze the effectiveness of the use of village funds in supporting the development of rural community empowerment and to analyze Community Involvement in the Management of the Village Fund Budget for the Development and Empowerment of Rural Communities in Punti Village, Soromandi District, Bima Regency, West Nusa Tenggara. The method used in this research is qualitative descriptive with data collection techniques through interviews, observation and documentation. Based on the analysis conducted, the utilization of village funds in Punti Village, Soromandi District, Bima Regency has shown high effectiveness in supporting rural development. The programs implemented, especially infrastructure development such as drainage and concrete rebates, have been in accordance with the priorities and needs of the community. This effectiveness can be seen from various aspects, including timeliness, cost calculation, measurement, choice making, thinking, order execution, and goal setting. Community participation was quite good in the planning stage through the village development planning meetings, although the involvement of women still needs to be improved. However, participation in the implementation and evaluation stages is still less than optimal. Nevertheless, the overall management of village funds has contributed positively to welfare improvement, infrastructure development, and community empowerment, including through cadre training and the development of village-owned enterprises. To maximize the benefits of village funds, it is necessary to increase community participation in all stages, especially in program implementation and evaluation, as well as to increase the involvement of women in decision-making.

An exploration of Irish nutrition educators’ experiences of competency-based assessment in nutrition science education

BackgroundCompetency-based assessment (CBA) supports the development and attainment of skills required for the workforce. Little is known about educators’ experience in developing or implementing CBA in nutrition science education or their opinions on how well it captures a student’s preparedness for the workforce. The objective of this study was to explore educators’ experience of CBA in nutrition education in Ireland.MethodGrounded in interpretivism, in-depth, semi-structured, audio-recorded interviews were conducted with 13 educators from five of the ten undergraduate honours degree nutrition programmes across Ireland. Interviews explored experiences of CBA and perception of students training to prepare for the workforce. A reflexive thematic analysis approach was implemented whereby the data were transcribed, inductively coded, and themes identified.ResultsA clear divide was evident between participants who were confident in their understanding of CBA and those who were unsure or had no knowledge of the term. Those with a clear understanding were more involved in programme development and evaluation. Three themes were identified: ‘Assessment process’ including intended learning outcomes, assessment design, and grading systems, ‘Student-centred approach to assessment’ focusing on work-based assessment and preparation for the workforce, and ‘Upskilling educators’ to equip educators with the skills and knowledge for professional development and to foster student success.ConclusionThe importance of CBA as a student-centred approach, supporting them to meet standards expected to practice as a nutrition professional, was the key experience of educators. Training in CBA and inclusion of more authentic assessment may better prepare students for the workforce.

Food service management perspectives on reducing sodium content in foods served: Opportunities and challenges

Abstract Between Fall 2017 and Spring 2018, the Los Angeles County Sodium Reduction Initiative interviewed food service management leaders and staff from eight public and private institutions in Southern California (three universities, four hospitals, and one senior meal program) to identify opportunities and challenges in reducing sodium content for the foods they sell, serve, and produce. Interviews were transcribed, collated, and analyzed using content analysis with thematic sorting and coding. Interviewees identified several opportunities: (1) group purchasing through a large organizational membership; (2) a supportive organizational culture; (3) organized strategies to replace high-sodium products; and (4) access to software resources to manage food inventories. Challenges included (1) negative customer/staff receptivity to low-sodium options; (2) lack of kitchen infrastructure/equipment; (3) low availability of healthy foods; and (4) limited program evaluation capacity. Collectively, these findings provide practice-based insights into how these factors contributed to sodium reduction efforts in these institutions.

Funding the Artistic Future: Diversifying Support for Sustainable Artistic Impact Through Program Evaluation

This paper presents a strategic impact and assessment approach—the Rubin-Imbens potential outcomes framework—to help identify the causal effects of initiatives for arts and culture organizations, which is increasingly required by the public and stakeholders in an era of financial precarity and digitization. This framework not only strengthens the argument for diversified arts funding, but also equips organizations with the tools necessary for developing sustainable business models. After embedding the proposal in the context of prior literature, I provide some practical guidance that organizations can use to achieve operational sustainability without compromising their artistic missions. The adoption of the Rubin-Imbens framework in arts management has the potential to produce more rigorous impact assessments that ultimately lead to improved outcomes and funding opportunities.

Effectiveness Evaluation of the Student Research Proposal Presentation Program at Scientific Writing Course

Higher education increasingly emphasizes the importance of developing students' academic and professional abilities, including scientific communication and presentation skills. The research proposal presentation program is a strategic initiative in responding to these needs, but challenges in its implementation still exist. Evaluate the effectiveness of student research proposal presentation programs in the Scientific Writing course at UNINDRA and identify strengths and weaknesses in the delivery of material and student argumentation structure. Evaluative research involves collecting data from the results of presentation evaluations, feedback from lecturers or other participants, and assessing the quality of presentations. Qualitative and quantitative data analysis techniques were used, with thematic analysis techniques to identify patterns or themes in participant feedback and evaluation. The evaluation showed that the research proposal presentation program provided significant benefits for lecturers and students. However, there are challenges in the learning process due to inadequate support in CPMK and material distribution. The high lecturer-student ratio also hinders the implementation of the ideal presentation. Internal obstacles such as lack of courage and suboptimal preparation of presentation materials also affect the quality of presentations. The need for adjustments in the preparation of the curriculum and teaching methods, including aligning the CPMK with the CPL and ensuring that the plan for the presentation of research proposals is included in the RPS. It is necessary to provide adequate time and improvement of presentation equipment to improve the quality of presentation and feedback. Better integration between CPMK and CPL will create a globally competitive generation of academics and professionals. Thus, this program can be more effective in achieving higher education goals in developing students' academic and professional abilities.

Comparative evaluation of biological control programs and chemical pesticides for managing insect and mite pests in cucumber greenhouses: a sustainable approach for enhanced pest control and yield

BackgroundCucumber plants are susceptible to several economically damaging pests, including whiteflies, aphids, thrips and spider mites. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of two biological control programs, utilizing different releases of bio-agents, in comparison with chemical control method. The bio-agents used were the aphid parasitoid Aphelinus albipodus Hayat and Fatima (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), the green lacewing Chrysoperla carnea (Steph.) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) and the predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot (Acari: Phytoseiidae) in two release rates; low and high. Additionally, a chemical pesticides treatment was included for comparison in managing the pests in cucumber greenhouses during the winter seasons of 2022 and 2023, in Egypt. Abundances of whitefly, aphids, thrips and spider mites were recorded weekly throughout the study.ResultsThe aphid population in the greenhouse with high release rate (BIO 2) showed the highest reduction, with percentages of 84.55 and 89.88% in 2022 and 2023, respectively. Both greenhouse with low release rate (BIO 1) and BIO 2 exhibited significant reductions in the whitefly population, with proportions of 71.31 and 72.01% in 2022, and 82.05 and 85.94% in 2023, respectively. The thrips population also experienced notable reductions in both BIO 1 and BIO 2 greenhouses, with percentages of 72.08 and 75.71% in 2022, and 59.93 and 61.38% in 2023, respectively. However, the pesticide treatment demonstrated the lowest reduction in populations of aphids, whitefly and thrips in both seasons. Nevertheless, in all treatments in the two evaluated seasons, the high release rate of the predatory mite, P. persimilis (15 individuals/m2), proved to be highly effective in maintaining the mite populations below the economic threshold level. However, the population density of the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch. (Acari: Tetranychidae), increased in the pesticide-treated greenhouse, indicating the development of resistance to pesticides. Although the tested programs resulted in similar yields, the biological control approach offered the advantage of pesticide-free produce and reduced production costs.ConclusionFor pest management in cucumber growing in greenhouses during winter, it is recommended to use biological control agents at a low release rate at the early occurrence of pests. This approach can help minimize pest populations effectively.

Changing a postgraduate certificate in academic practice to a postgraduate apprenticeship at one English university: impacts for academic identities and staff development practices

ABSTRACT Since 2018, new UK academics can enrol on a postgraduate Academic Professional Apprenticeship (APP) to become accredited higher education professionals. This new apprenticeship replaces or runs alongside traditional newer academic programmes such as Postgraduate Certificates of Academic Practice (PCAP). We share findings from a programme evaluation at one of the first adopters of the APP which explored the experiences of course participants and those supporting them. With 35 interview or focus group participants, findings show how the apprenticeship element adds more development and support opportunities for both, the apprentices and experienced academics supporting them. However, challenges around protecting time for development and balancing workload remained and there were challenges associated with the concept of being an apprentice. We also found some changes to the programme curriculum as a result of mapping it to the apprenticeship standard.

Photovoltaic systems, costs, and electrical and electronic waste in the Legal Amazon: An evaluation of the Luz para Todos Program

Despite its significance in regulating the global climate and maintaining biodiversity, the vastness of the Amazon geography imposes challenges for its residents, including limited access to electricity. The Luz para Todos Program proposes to universalize access to the public electricity service in remote regions of the Legal Amazon with renewable energy sources. From this perspective, the work assessed the ability of sector agents to meet the demand for universalization of the Luz para Todos Program, the economic aspects involved in the universalization process, and the waste management and reverse logistics of these systems. The findings indicate a demand for up to 15 million photovoltaic modules, batteries, and inverters with a maximum cost exceeding BRL 38 billion (USD 7.4 billion). Over 33 years, between 58 and 234 thousand tons of electronic waste would be generated. The program should change the panorama of installed photovoltaic capacity in the northern region of the country, thus placing considerable demand upon the solar industry to supply equipment for the installation of thousands of standalone systems across a vast territory, generating waste in places with inadequate infrastructure to manage them in an environmentally sensitive manner. The diversification of renewable energy sources could alleviate the burden on the service chain, curtail the waste generated by photovoltaic equipment, and stimulate the development of a service chain in regions gaining access to electricity services.

Evaluasi Program Pendidikan

A comprehensive evaluation aims to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the program, thus allowing for informed decision-making for improvement and development. This study aims to analyze the concepts, objectives, principles, steps, supporting factors, inhibiting factors, and solutions to overcome inhibiting factors in the implementation of educational program evaluation. The research method used is a literature review, with a focus on literature review analysis that discusses the concepts and steps of evaluating educational programs, as well as factors that need to be considered in the evaluation. The results show that the evaluation of educational programs has the goal of assessing program effectiveness, identifying areas of improvement, and encouraging improvement in the quality of education. The evaluation of educational programs should be guided by the principle of objectivity and focus on the goals of the program. The steps that must be taken in the evaluation of educational programs include the preparation and implementation as well as monitoring of the evaluation of educational programs. Supporting factors for the evaluation of educational programs include clear and firm policies from the government and educational institutions. This policy includes evaluation standards that must be met, methodologies used, and evaluation implementation schedules Factors that hinder the evaluation of educational programs include a lack of resources, both in terms of finance and competent experts.

Implementation and evaluation of a mentorship program in clinical master in family medicine during the COVID-19 pandemic at the Arabian Gulf University: a longitudinal study

BackgroundWe implemented a contextualized innovative mentorship program in the Clinical Master in Family Medicine (CMFM) program established in April 2020 at Arabian Gulf University. In this paper, we describe the process of this program and derive the major challenges faced by trainees and related corrective actions and their outcomes on high-risk trainees for optimal performance.MethodsWe conducted a mixed-method longitudinal study of 80 trainees, analyzing information extracted from the Moodle learning platform about five key performance indicators as well as the contents (quantitative and qualitative) of mentoring meeting reports submitted through a validated online form between 2020 and 2022. We analyzed frequencies and themes of challenges and compared trainees' performance according to time and level of risk.ResultsThe follow-up of all 80 trainees in two cohorts (40 for each cohort) shows that most are female (93.75%) and the mean age is 30.00 ± 2.19 years with a ratio of mentors to mentees of 1 to 5. Meetings are conducted through phone calls, virtually, and face-to-face in 62%, 29%, and 8.3% respectively. The mean number and duration of meetings are 30.88 ± 2.31 and 20.08 ± 9.50 min respectively. Time management is the most reported challenge (41.3%), followed by health, social, and psychological-related issues in 7.6%, 4.6%, and 3% respectively. We extracted four main themes related to trainees, settings of training, e-Portfolio, and the COVID-19 pandemic. The mentorship program captured 12 trainees at high risk for low academic progress (12%) of whom six graduated on time and the remaining had to repeat a few courses the following terms. The performance of the program is stable over time (mean GPA of 3.30 (SE = 0.03), versus 3.34 (SE = 0.05) for cohorts 1 and 2 in the two years respectively, (P = 0.33). However, it is slightly lower among high-risk trainees compared to the remaining (GPA = 3.35 (SE = 0.03) versus 3.14 (SE = 0.08), P = 0.043) though above the minimum of the threshold of 3 out of 4, required for the master's degree.ConclusionThe mentorship program captured the struggling trainees and permitted to implement pertinent corrective actions timely, particularly in the context of a two-year intensive CMFM program during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pushing the boundaries: an evaluation of the Photographs of Meaning (POM) program for pediatric palliative caregivers (PPCGs)*

ABSTRACT Translational research is seemingly ubiquitous, yet complex and difficult to concretely define. We contribute to this conversation by reflectively and critically evaluating a collaborative, multidisciplinary program called the Photographs of Meaning (POM) for pediatric palliative caregivers. The POM program brings together the public health issue of caregiving with community-based-art methodology and engagement. Following four stages for public health research; assessment, design, implementation, and evaluation, we focus on photovoice as a valuable methodological tool that can be integral to translational work in communication. The program evaluation illustrates the main points of translation from the first iteration of POM to the second, as we challenge the traditional ‘bench to bedside’ notion of translational research and offer a more relational approach where communication scholars can engage participants and community networks through photographs. We end with implications and recommendations for scholars working with pediatric palliative caregivers and public health research more generally.

Interspecific hybridization in a large‐river population of Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout: A 20‐year programmatic evaluation

Interspecific hybridization in a large‐river population of Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout: A 20‐year programmatic evaluation

Integrating Data Analytics Training into Curricula at Small Colleges: A Practical Framework for Enhancing Student Skills

Quantitative Data Analytics (QDA) is a critical skill for professionals across various natural science disciplines. However, college curricula, especially at small colleges, often lag behind the evolving workforce’s needs due to limited faculty resources. Despite abundant training materials, there is a noticeable gap in practical frameworks for effectively developing and implementing QDA training programs, particularly addressing existing curriculum gaps and resource constraints. This study presents a practical framework for developing introductory QDA training programs tailored for non-statistical majors at resource-constrained small colleges with various educational settings. Employing a design science strategy, we developed a modular co-curricular QDA Training Program (CQDATP), consisting of five training modules refined over three iterative phases. This flexible design integrates seamlessly with existing courses or can function as standalone workshops, bolstering students’ preparedness for advanced courses and research opportunities. Our program evaluation indicates that our approach significantly enhanced students’ QDA capabilities without necessitating extensive curriculum overhauls. By focusing on adaptability and resource efficiency, our framework holds the potential to benefit educators, curriculum developers, and administrators at small colleges, ensuring that graduates are well-prepared for data-driven industries, even when resources are limited.

Analysis and mapping of harm reduction research in the context of injectable drug use: identifying research hotspots, gaps and future directions

BackgroundHarm reduction is a crucial approach in addressing the multifaceted challenges of injectable drug use. This paper presents an analysis and mapping of the existing literature on harm reduction research in the context of injectable drug use. By reviewing a comprehensive set of scholarly articles, this study identifies research hotspots, knowledge gaps, and future directions in the field. The findings provide valuable insights for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to guide future research efforts and inform evidence-based harm reduction interventions.MethodsData for the study was obtained from the Scopus database, using keywords and phrases related to harm reduction and injectable drug use. Validation methods were employed to verify the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the search strategy. Data analysis involved identifying growth patterns, key contributors, mapping frequent terms, identifying research hotspots, and identifying emerging research directions.ResultsA total of 971 articles were found, with a notable increase from 2015 to 2022. The International Journal of Drug Policy (n = 172, 17.7%) and the Harm Reduction Journal (n = 104, 10.7%) were the most prolific journals, and the United States (n = 558, 57.5%) had the highest number of publications. The Johns Hopkins University (n = 80, 8.5%) was the most prolific institution. Mapping of frequent author keywords revealed the main keywords, including harm reduction, HIV, hepatitis C, and opioid overdose. The highly cited articles cover a broad time span and focus on topics like naloxone distribution, HIV and hepatitis C transmission, while recent articles concentrate on emerging issues such as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, fentanyl-related concerns, stigma reduction, and needle and syringe programs. Both sets of articles share a common focus on harm reduction strategies, but recent publications highlight current challenges and developments in the field.ConclusionsThis study provides insights into research landscape on harm reduction in injectable drug use. Research is concentrated in high-income countries, emphasizing the need for more research in low- and middle-income countries. Recent publications focus on emerging challenges like COVID-19 and fentanyl. Research gaps highlight the need for studies in diverse populations, social determinants, program evaluation, and implementation strategies to enhance harm reduction interventions.

Longitudinal program evaluation of an inter-institutional mentorship network for pediatric rheumatology using a quality improvement framework

BackgroundThe American College of Rheumatology (ACR)/Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA) Mentoring Interest Group (AMIGO) is an inter-institutional mentorship program launched to target mentorship gaps within pediatric rheumatology. Initial program evaluation indicated increased mentorship access. Given the small size of the pediatric rheumatology workforce, maintaining a consistent supply of mentors was a potential threat to the longevity of the network. Our aims were to: (i) describe the sustainability of AMIGO over the period 2011–2018, (ii) highlight ongoing benefits to participants, and (iii) describe challenges in the maintenance of a mentorship network.MethodsA mixed-methods approach centered on a quality improvement framework was used to report on process and outcomes measures associated with AMIGO annual cycles.ResultsUS and Canada Pediatric rheumatology workforce surveys identified 504 possible participants during the time period. As of fall 2018, 331 unique individuals had participated in AMIGO as a mentee, mentor or both for a program response rate of 66% (331/504). Survey of mentees indicated high satisfaction with impact on general career development, research/scholarship and work-life balance. Mentors indicated increased sense of connection to the community and satisfaction with helping mentees despite limited perceived benefit to their academic portfolios. Based on AMIGO’s success, a counterpart program for adult rheumatology, Creating Adult Rheumatology Mentorship in Academia (CARMA), was launched in 2018.ConclusionsDespite the challenges of a limited workforce, AMIGO continues to provide consistent access to mentorship opportunities for the pediatric rheumatology community. This experience can inform approaches to mentorship gaps in other academic subspecialties.

Longitudinal program evaluation of an inter-institutional mentorship network for pediatric rheumatology using a quality improvement framework

BackgroundThe American College of Rheumatology (ACR)/Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA) Mentoring Interest Group (AMIGO) is an inter-institutional mentorship program launched to target mentorship gaps within pediatric rheumatology. Initial program evaluation indicated increased mentorship access. Given the small size of the pediatric rheumatology workforce, maintaining a consistent supply of mentors was a potential threat to the longevity of the network. Our aims were to: (i) describe the sustainability of AMIGO over the period 2011–2018, (ii) highlight ongoing benefits to participants, and (iii) describe challenges in the maintenance of a mentorship network.MethodsA mixed-methods approach centered on a quality improvement framework was used to report on process and outcomes measures associated with AMIGO annual cycles.ResultsUS and Canada Pediatric rheumatology workforce surveys identified 504 possible participants during the time period. As of fall 2018, 331 unique individuals had participated in AMIGO as a mentee, mentor or both for a program response rate of 66% (331/504). Survey of mentees indicated high satisfaction with impact on general career development, research/scholarship and work-life balance. Mentors indicated increased sense of connection to the community and satisfaction with helping mentees despite limited perceived benefit to their academic portfolios. Based on AMIGO’s success, a counterpart program for adult rheumatology, Creating Adult Rheumatology Mentorship in Academia (CARMA), was launched in 2018.ConclusionsDespite the challenges of a limited workforce, AMIGO continues to provide consistent access to mentorship opportunities for the pediatric rheumatology community. This experience can inform approaches to mentorship gaps in other academic subspecialties.

Analysis and mapping of harm reduction research in the context of injectable drug use: identifying research hotspots, gaps and future directions

BackgroundHarm reduction is a crucial approach in addressing the multifaceted challenges of injectable drug use. This paper presents an analysis and mapping of the existing literature on harm reduction research in the context of injectable drug use. By reviewing a comprehensive set of scholarly articles, this study identifies research hotspots, knowledge gaps, and future directions in the field. The findings provide valuable insights for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to guide future research efforts and inform evidence-based harm reduction interventions.MethodsData for the study was obtained from the Scopus database, using keywords and phrases related to harm reduction and injectable drug use. Validation methods were employed to verify the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the search strategy. Data analysis involved identifying growth patterns, key contributors, mapping frequent terms, identifying research hotspots, and identifying emerging research directions.ResultsA total of 971 articles were found, with a notable increase from 2015 to 2022. The International Journal of Drug Policy (n = 172, 17.7%) and the Harm Reduction Journal (n = 104, 10.7%) were the most prolific journals, and the United States (n = 558, 57.5%) had the highest number of publications. The Johns Hopkins University (n = 80, 8.5%) was the most prolific institution. Mapping of frequent author keywords revealed the main keywords, including harm reduction, HIV, hepatitis C, and opioid overdose. The highly cited articles cover a broad time span and focus on topics like naloxone distribution, HIV and hepatitis C transmission, while recent articles concentrate on emerging issues such as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, fentanyl-related concerns, stigma reduction, and needle and syringe programs. Both sets of articles share a common focus on harm reduction strategies, but recent publications highlight current challenges and developments in the field.ConclusionsThis study provides insights into research landscape on harm reduction in injectable drug use. Research is concentrated in high-income countries, emphasizing the need for more research in low- and middle-income countries. Recent publications focus on emerging challenges like COVID-19 and fentanyl. Research gaps highlight the need for studies in diverse populations, social determinants, program evaluation, and implementation strategies to enhance harm reduction interventions.