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Neurology
Protocol
Neurosurgeons’ experiences of conducting and disseminating clinical research in low- and middle-income countries: a qualitative study protocol
  1. Charlotte J Whiffin1,2,3,
  2. Brandon G Smith2,3,
  3. Ignatius N Esene3,4,
  4. Claire Karekezi5,
  5. Tom Bashford2,3,
  6. Muhammad Mukhtar Khan6,
  7. Davi J Fontoura Solla7,
  8. Peter J Hutchinson2,3,
  9. Angelos Kolias2,3
  1. 1College of Health and Social Care, University of Derby, Derby, UK
  2. 2Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Addenbrooke’s Hospital and University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
  3. 3NIHR Global Health Research Group on Neurotrauma, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
  4. 4Neurosurgery Division, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bamenda, Bambili, NW Region, Cameroon
  5. 5Department of Neurosurgery, Rwanda Military Hospital, Kigali, Kigali City, Rwanda
  6. 6Neurosurgery, Northwest School of Medicine and Northwest General Hospital and Research Centre, Peshawar, Pakistan
  7. 7Department of Neurology, Division of Neurosurgery, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
  1. Correspondence to Dr Charlotte J Whiffin; c.whiffin{at}derby.ac.uk

Abstract

Introduction Low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) face the greatest burden of neurotrauma. However, most of the research published in scientific journals originates from high-income countries, suggesting those in LMICs are either not engaging in research or are not publishing it. Evidence originating in high-income countries may not be generalisable to LMICs; therefore, it is important to nurture research capacity in LMICs so that a relevant evidence base can be developed. However, little is published about specific challenges or contextual issues relevant to increasing research activity of neurosurgeons in LMICs. Therefore, the aim of this study was to understand neurosurgeons’ experiences of, aspirations for and ability to conduct and disseminate clinical research in LMICs.

Methods and analysis This is a pragmatic qualitative study situated within the naturalistic paradigm using focus groups and interviews with a purposive sample of neurosurgeons from LMICs. First, we will conduct asynchronous online focus groups with 36 neurosurgeons to broadly explore issues relevant to the study aim. Second, we will select 20 participants for follow-up semistructured interviews to explore concepts in more depth and detail than could be achieved in the focus group. Interviews will be audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. A thematic analysis will be conducted following Braun and Clarke’s six stages and will be supported by NVIVO software.

Ethics and dissemination The University of Cambridge Psychology Research Ethics Committee reviewed this study and provided a favourable opinion in January 2020 (REF PRE.2020.006). Participants will provide informed consent, be able to withdraw at any time and will have their contributions kept confidential. The findings of the study will be shared with relevant stakeholders and disseminated in conference presentations and journal publications.

  • qualitative research
  • neurosurgery
  • neurological injury
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

This is an open access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Unported (CC BY 4.0) license, which permits others to copy, redistribute, remix, transform and build upon this work for any purpose, provided the original work is properly cited, a link to the licence is given, and indication of whether changes were made. See: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-038939

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    Footnotes

    • CJW and BGS are joint first authors.

    • Twitter @CJWhiffin, @brangsmith, @clairekarekezi, @neuromkhan

    • Contributors PH and AK conceived the research idea. CW, AK and BGS designed the study. CW wrote the first draft of the protocol and paper for publication. TB, INE, CK, MMK and DJFS all contributed to the study protocol and edited the final paper.

    • Funding This work was supported by the National Institute for Health Research Global Health Research Group on Neurotrauma.

    • Competing interests AK and PH are supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre and the NIHR Global Health Research Group on Neurotrauma. PH is also supported by a NIHR Research Professorship and the Royal College of Surgeons of England. The NIHR Global Health Research Group on Neurotrauma was commissioned by the United Kingdom NIHR using Official Development Assistance funding (Project No. 16/137/105). The views expressed in this manuscript are those of the authors and are not necessarily those of the United Kingdom National Health Service, NIHR or the Department of Health. Drs Esene, Karekezi, Khan, Solla and Kolias are members of the Young Neurosurgeons committee of the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies. The committee is supporting this project.

    • Patient consent for publication Not required.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.