Research Capacity and Training Needs for Cancer in Conflict-Affected MENA Countries

Background: The global cancer burden is disproportionately greater in low- and middle-income countries, including those affected by conflict in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Contributing factors include inadequate control of risk factors plus limited surveillance and treatment opti...

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Autores principales:	Zahi Abdul-Sater, Elsa Kobeissi, Marilyne Menassa, Talar Telvizian, Deborah Mukherji
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	Ubiquity Press 2020
Materias:	Infectious and parasitic diseases RC109-216 Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/0df7eb8def7a45e2a79d4933a21afa94
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:0df7eb8def7a45e2a79d4933a21afa942021-12-02T16:09:33ZResearch Capacity and Training Needs for Cancer in Conflict-Affected MENA Countries2214-999610.5334/aogh.2809https://doaj.org/article/0df7eb8def7a45e2a79d4933a21afa942020-11-01T00:00:00Zhttps://annalsofglobalhealth.org/articles/2809https://doaj.org/toc/2214-9996Background: The global cancer burden is disproportionately greater in low- and middle-income countries, including those affected by conflict in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Contributing factors include inadequate control of risk factors plus limited surveillance and treatment options. Weak healthcare infrastructure may be further compounded by the conflict prevalent in multiple MENA countries. Improved cancer surveillance, research, and capacity strengthening are essential for implementing cancer control plans in the MENA region, requisite for reducing the disproportionate cancer burden. Aims: This article aims to understand the barriers to cancer research and training in conflict-affected MENA countries, and to identify opportunities for developing capacities for reliable cancer research strategies. Methods: This study employs a mixed-method approach utilizing an online questionnaire with open and close ended questions targeting oncologists and cancer researchers in conflict-affected MENA countries. For open-ended questions, we performed a qualitative content analysis to identify thematic barriers. Results: Forty-eight respondents, mostly Medical and Radiation Oncologists, completed the questionnaire. The most significant training needs were conducting clinical, basic, and qualitative cancer research. The most prominent barriers identified were insufficient training in data analysis and research design (77% and 75% of respondents, respectively) and insufficient institutional and government funding (94% and 85%, respectively). For the qualitative data, we organized the barriers into six themes, the most common was the lack of research infrastructure (28%). Conclusions: Despite an escalating cancer burden, conflict-affected MENA countries are lagging in knowledge production and implementation of evidence-based cancer research. Novel modes of knowledge transmission and collaboration across geographical and political boundaries are sorely needed. Based on our study, we recommend developing innovative and accessible training opportunities focusing on developing basic, clinical, and qualitative research skills. Research capacity-strengthening initiatives should encourage the investigation of context-specific research questions with the potential to make a meaningful impact on cancer control in the region.Zahi Abdul-SaterElsa KobeissiMarilyne MenassaTalar TelvizianDeborah MukherjiUbiquity PressarticleInfectious and parasitic diseasesRC109-216Public aspects of medicineRA1-1270ENAnnals of Global Health, Vol 86, Iss 1 (2020)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	Infectious and parasitic diseases RC109-216 Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270
spellingShingle	Infectious and parasitic diseases RC109-216 Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270 Zahi Abdul-Sater Elsa Kobeissi Marilyne Menassa Talar Telvizian Deborah Mukherji Research Capacity and Training Needs for Cancer in Conflict-Affected MENA Countries
description	Background: The global cancer burden is disproportionately greater in low- and middle-income countries, including those affected by conflict in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Contributing factors include inadequate control of risk factors plus limited surveillance and treatment options. Weak healthcare infrastructure may be further compounded by the conflict prevalent in multiple MENA countries. Improved cancer surveillance, research, and capacity strengthening are essential for implementing cancer control plans in the MENA region, requisite for reducing the disproportionate cancer burden. Aims: This article aims to understand the barriers to cancer research and training in conflict-affected MENA countries, and to identify opportunities for developing capacities for reliable cancer research strategies. Methods: This study employs a mixed-method approach utilizing an online questionnaire with open and close ended questions targeting oncologists and cancer researchers in conflict-affected MENA countries. For open-ended questions, we performed a qualitative content analysis to identify thematic barriers. Results: Forty-eight respondents, mostly Medical and Radiation Oncologists, completed the questionnaire. The most significant training needs were conducting clinical, basic, and qualitative cancer research. The most prominent barriers identified were insufficient training in data analysis and research design (77% and 75% of respondents, respectively) and insufficient institutional and government funding (94% and 85%, respectively). For the qualitative data, we organized the barriers into six themes, the most common was the lack of research infrastructure (28%). Conclusions: Despite an escalating cancer burden, conflict-affected MENA countries are lagging in knowledge production and implementation of evidence-based cancer research. Novel modes of knowledge transmission and collaboration across geographical and political boundaries are sorely needed. Based on our study, we recommend developing innovative and accessible training opportunities focusing on developing basic, clinical, and qualitative research skills. Research capacity-strengthening initiatives should encourage the investigation of context-specific research questions with the potential to make a meaningful impact on cancer control in the region.
format	article
author	Zahi Abdul-Sater Elsa Kobeissi Marilyne Menassa Talar Telvizian Deborah Mukherji
author_facet	Zahi Abdul-Sater Elsa Kobeissi Marilyne Menassa Talar Telvizian Deborah Mukherji
author_sort	Zahi Abdul-Sater
title	Research Capacity and Training Needs for Cancer in Conflict-Affected MENA Countries
title_short	Research Capacity and Training Needs for Cancer in Conflict-Affected MENA Countries
title_full	Research Capacity and Training Needs for Cancer in Conflict-Affected MENA Countries
title_fullStr	Research Capacity and Training Needs for Cancer in Conflict-Affected MENA Countries
title_full_unstemmed	Research Capacity and Training Needs for Cancer in Conflict-Affected MENA Countries
title_sort	research capacity and training needs for cancer in conflict-affected mena countries
publisher	Ubiquity Press
publishDate	2020
url	https://doaj.org/article/0df7eb8def7a45e2a79d4933a21afa94
work_keys_str_mv	AT zahiabdulsater researchcapacityandtrainingneedsforcancerinconflictaffectedmenacountries AT elsakobeissi researchcapacityandtrainingneedsforcancerinconflictaffectedmenacountries AT marilynemenassa researchcapacityandtrainingneedsforcancerinconflictaffectedmenacountries AT talartelvizian researchcapacityandtrainingneedsforcancerinconflictaffectedmenacountries AT deborahmukherji researchcapacityandtrainingneedsforcancerinconflictaffectedmenacountries
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Research Capacity and Training Needs for Cancer in Conflict-Affected MENA Countries

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