Article

Short-term global health research projects by US medical students: ethical challenges for partnerships.

Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene (impact factor: 2.59). 08/2010; 83(2):211-4. DOI:10.4269/ajtmh.2010.09-0692 pp.211-4
Source: PubMed

ABSTRACT Recent interest in global health among medical students has grown drastically, and many students now spend time abroad conducting short-term research projects in low-resource settings. These short-term stints in developing countries present important ethical challenges to US-based students and their medical schools as well as the institutions that host such students abroad. This paper outlines some of these ethical issues and puts forth recommendations for ethically mindful short-term student research.

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    Article: A neonatal resuscitation curriculum in Malawi, Africa: did it change in-hospital mortality?
    Michael K Hole, Keely Olmsted, Athanase Kiromera, Lisa Chamberlain
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    ABSTRACT: Objective. The WHO estimates that 99% of the 3.8 million neonatal deaths occur in developing countries. Neonatal resuscitation training was implemented in Namitete, Malawi. The study's objective was to evaluate the training's impact on hospital staff and neonatal mortality rates. Study Design. Pre-/postcurricular surveys of trainee attitude, knowledge, and skills were analyzed. An observational, longitudinal study of secondary data assessed neonatal mortality. Result. All trainees' (n = 18) outcomes improved, (P = 0.02). Neonatal mortality did not change. There were 3449 births preintervention, 3515 postintervention. Neonatal mortality was 20.9 deaths per 1000 live births preintervention and 21.9/1000 postintervention, (P = 0.86). Conclusion. Short-term pre-/postintervention evaluations frequently reveal positive results, as ours did. Short-term pre- and postintervention evaluations should be interpreted cautiously. Whenever possible, clinical outcomes such as in-hospital mortality should be additionally assessed. More rigorous evaluation strategies should be applied to training programs requiring longitudinal relationships with international community partners.
    International Journal of Pediatrics 01/2012; 2012:408689.
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Keywords

ethical issues
 
ethically mindful short-term student research
 
global health
 
medical schools
 
medical students
 
Recent interest
 
short-term research projects
 
short-term stints
 
students
 
US-based students