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Psychiatric research work in developing countries
- Prof. K.A.L.A. Kuruppuarachchi (11 April 2007)
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Prof. K.A.L.A. Kuruppuarachchi, Professor of Psychiatry Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya,Ragama,Sri Lanka
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lalithkuruppu{at}lycos.com Prof. K.A.L.A. Kuruppuarachchi
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Sir I have read the article written on contribution of low- and middle- income countries to research published in leading general psychiatry journals 2002 – 2004 , Vikram Patel and Youl- RI Kim(2007) with interest. The researchers were trying to highlight the importance of doing more research work in the developing countries and the need for more submissions for publication and reviewing editorial policies of leading journals.. Another study done in Australia recently has shown under-representation of psychiatric publications from developing countries. (Joshua White, Vikram Patel, Helen Herrman 2007). The reasons for the low contribution have been discussed widely. The participants, both National and International of a workshop on Research Methodology and Publications in Colombo , Sri Lanka recently felt that the developing countries need to do more relevant and appropriate research work in order to improve the quality of care of the mentally ill. Obviously the lack of resources including the human resources , lack of research culture amongst the professionals and trainees, lack of rewards for research work may be playing a role in inadequate research output in our countries. Also lack of access to major journals may be playing a role (Hamid Ghodse 2004). Most of the adverse factors with regard to low research output seem to be interconnected and the improvement appears to be slow. The possible solutions are, to improve the knowledge of research methodology amongst the psychiatric trainees, incorporating research methodology in undergraduate medical curricular and encouraging clinicians to carry out clinically oriented and health system research work and regular audits. It is mandatory to do a research dissertation after the MD(Psychiatry) for Board certification in psychiatry in Sri Lanka at present. Also many Medical Schools encourage research work amongst undergraduate trainees. International collaboration and partnership will help to improve the quality of the work. Also the International participants in scientific conferences held in developing countries can share their experiences with the local researchers which will help to enhance the morale too. It has been repeatedly highlighted the need for having local journals to disseminate the knowledge. However it seems that the submission rate of psychiatric articles to the local medical journals is grossly inadequate compared with the other medical disciplines. For instance the submission rate of psychiatric articles to the Ceylon Medical Journal (the leading medical journal in Sri Lanka at present) is less than 5% (Personal Communications , Editors , Ceylon Medical Journal , 6, Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo, Sri Lanka) With the improvement of awareness of this important issue amongst the professionals we can be optimistic about the research work done in the developing countries in the future. Declaration of interest - None References Vikram Patel, Youl -RI.Kim(2007) Contribution of low-and middle income countries to research published in leading general psychiatry journals 2002 – 2004, British Journal of Psychiatry , 190, 77-78. Joshua White, Vikram Patel, Helen Herrman(2007) Australian and New Zealand contribution to international mental health research publications: a survey of high – impact-journals, World Psychiatry , 6 :49-53. Hamid Ghodse(2004) Mental health research publications from low- and middle- income countries, International Psychiatry, 4, 1-2. |
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