Update on the global neurosurgery movement: A systematic review of international vernacular, research trends, and authorship. (September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Behmer Hansen, Rosemary T.; Behmer Hansen, Ryan A.; Behmer, Virginia A.; Gold, Justin; Silva, Nicole; Dubey, Arjun; Nanda, Anil
• Is Part Of: Journal of clinical neuroscience. Volume 79(2020)
• Page Start: 183
• Page End: 190
• Publication Date: 2020-09
• Subjects: Global health -- Neurosurgery -- Global neurosurgery -- Capacity building -- Public health -- Developing countries -- Research activities; Brain -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Neurosciences -- Periodicals; Nervous system -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Brain -- surgery -- Periodicals; Neurosurgical Procedures -- Periodicals; Neurosciences -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jocn.2020.07.061
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0967-5868

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: Growth in global neurosurgery-related publications accelerated in 2008. Global neurosurgery research efforts focus on particular topics and world regions. Diverse international authorship contributed to the body of literature. Authors document capacity-building in low- and middle-income countries. Evidence supports developing international global neurosurgery centers. Abstract: In 2015, key global and neurosurgical organizations increased collaboration to improve neurosurgical care access, delivery, and outcomes, particularly in low- to middle-income countries (LMICs); sparking what has been termed the global neurosurgery movement. The authors sought to assess trends in usage of the term 'global neurosurgery' in academic literature with particular focus on author affiliations, world regions most frequently discussed, and topics of research performed. A PubMed search for articles indexed as 'global neurosurgery' was completed yielding 277 articles which met inclusion criteria. It was found that over time, use of the term 'global neurosurgery' has increased, with increasing growth notable starting in the year 2008 and continuing into October 2019. Statistical comparisons showed authors with affiliated global neurosurgery centers were more likely to publish studies related to the continent of Africa (47.4% vs 15.9%, p < 0.001), and less likely to focus on countries in Asia (2.6% vs 20.9%, p = 0.023). Use of the term 'global neurosurgery' in the article abstract/title/keywords was associated with focus on LMICs (18.6% vs. 5.1%, p = 0.006). Use of the term 'global neurosurgery' was associated with workforce and capacity as research topics (41.9% vs 22.6%, p = 0.036). While fairly new, the global neurosurgery movement has seen a rapid increase in publications utilizing the term 'global neurosurgery.' Articles frequently have focused on collaborative, targeted workforce capacity building in LMICs. We encourage the development of more global neurosurgery academic centers, especially in non-USA countries, to continue this momentum.