Advancing research integrity : a programme to embed good practice in Africa
Date
2019-08-13
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Pan African Medical Journal
Abstract
In Africa, training programmes as well as institutional policies on research integrity are lacking. Institutions have a responsibility to oversee research integrity through various efforts, including policies and training. We developed, implemented and evaluated an institutional approach to promote research integrity at African institutions, comprising a workshop for researchers ("bottom-up") and discussions with senior faculty on institutional policies ("top-down"). During the first day, we facilitated a workshop to introduce research integrity and promote best practices with regards to authorship, plagiarism, redundant publication and conflicts of interest. We used a variety of interactive teaching approaches to facilitate learning, including individual and group activities, small group discussions and case-based learning. We met with senior faculty on the following day to provide feedback and insights from the workshop, review current institutional policies and provide examples of what other research groups are doing. We evaluated the process. Participants actively engaged in discussions, recognised the importance of the topic and acknowledged that poor practices occurred at their institution. Discussions with senior researchers resulted in the establishment of a working group tasked with developing a publication policy for the institution. Our approach kick-started conversations on research integrity at institutions. There is a need for continued discussions, integrated training programmes and implementation of institutional policies and guidelines to promote good practices.
Description
CITATION: Rohwer, A. et al. 2019. Advancing research integrity: a programme to embed good practice in Africa. Pan African Medical Journal, 33. doi:10.11604/pamj.2019.33.298.17008
The original publication is available at https://www.panafrican-med-journal.com/
The original publication is available at https://www.panafrican-med-journal.com/
Keywords
Research -- Moral and ethical aspects -- Practice -- Africa, Scholarly publishing -- Moral and ethical aspects -- Practice -- Africa
Citation
Rohwer, A., Wager, E. & Young, T. 2019. Advancing research integrity: a programme to embed good practice in Africa. Pan African Medical Journal, 33. doi:10.11604/pamj.2019.33.298.17008