Field based research in the era of the pandemic in resource limited settings

Challenges and lessons for the future

Bibliographic Data

ID22075173
AuthorsRubina Mulchandani (0000-0001-7330-9285, Institute of Public Health Bengaluru), Tanica Lyngdoh (0000-0003-3310-4060, Government of India), Sheetal Gandotra (0000-0002-5475-9704, Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology), H S Isser (0000-0001-7915-5977, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College & Safdarjung Hospital), Rajinder K Dhamija (0000-0001-6042-7469, University of Delhi), Ashish Kumar Kakkar (0000-0001-7768-7304, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, corresponding author)
Year2024
Volume12
Pages1309089-1309089
Publication date2024-02-29
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueFrontiers in Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2296-2565 • E-ISSN: 2296-2565
PublisherFrontiers Media SA (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3389/fpubh.2024.1309089
PMID38487184
OpenAlexW4392285218
LanguageEN
References cited83

The coronavirus pandemic that began in December 2019, has had an unprecedented impact on the global economy, health systems and infrastructure, in addition to being responsible for significant mortality and morbidity worldwide. The “new normal” has brought along, unforeseen challenges for the scientific community, owing to obstructions in conducting field-based research in lieu of minimizing exposure through in-person contact. This has had greater ramifications for the LMICs, adding to the already existing concerns. As a response to COVID-19 related movement restrictions, public health researchers across countries had to switch to remote data collections methods. However, impediments like lack of awareness and skepticism among participants, dependence on paper-based prescriptions, dearth of digitized patient records, gaps in connectivity, reliance on smart phones, concerns with participant privacy at home and greater loss to follow-up act as hurdles to carrying out a research study virtually, especially in resource-limited settings. Promoting health literacy through science communication, ensuring digitization of health records in hospitals, and employing measures to encourage research participation among the general public are some steps to tackle barriers to remote research in the long term. COVID-19 may not be a health emergency anymore, but we are not immune to future pandemics. A more holistic approach to research by turning obstacles into opportunities will not just ensure a more comprehensive public health response in the coming time, but also bolster the existing infrastructure for a stronger healthcare system for countries

Data science · Disease · Pandemic · Pathology · Political science · Computer Science · Ethics in Clinical Research · Global Health and Surgery · Health Policy Implementation Science · Medicine

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