Zubin Master MedicReS World Congress 2014
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The document discusses authorship ethics in global health research. It notes that global health research often involves collaborations between researchers from high-income countries and low/middle-income countries. However, the current authorship guidelines from ICMJE can disadvantage researchers from LMICs by requiring English proficiency and potentially viewing their contributions as merely technical. The document calls for more research and guidance on authorship practices in global health to help ensure equitable treatment of all researchers and contributions.
Zubin Master MedicReS World Congress 2014
- 1. 10/29/2014 Copyright: Zubin Master, 2014 1 Authorship Ethics in Global Health Research Zubin Master, PhD MedicReS Congress on Good Medical Research, NY, NY October 16, 2014 Context: Global Health Research (GHR) • Global health places priority on improving, and ensuring equity, in health worldwide • GHR is often multi/interdisciplinary and involves large collaborative networks. 2 • Our analysis of GHR are in situations where researchers from high income countries (HICs) partner with those of low and middle-income countries (LMICs) © Zubin Master, 2014
- 2. 10/29/2014 Copyright: Zubin Master, 2014 2 3 Genetics of a Tropical Disease • Collaborative grant to study the genetics of a tropical disease between HIC & LMIC researchers • HIC researchers may have scientific expertise, access to genomics/proteomic technologies • LMIC researchers may be from a nation affected w/disease can provide scientific expertise, insight into local perceptions, and access to the study population • Together they may gather epidemiological genetic data relevant to local/international public health interventions Funders and Ethics Boards Require the Research to Address Local Interests & Needs © Zubin Master, 2014 4 The ICMJE recommends that authorship be based on the following 4 criteria: 1. Substantial contributions to the conception or design of the work; or the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data for the work; AND 2. Drafting the work or revising it critically for important intellectual content; AND 3. Final approval of the version to be published; AND 4. Agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved. ICMJE 2013 Guidelines © Zubin Master, 2014
- 3. 10/29/2014 Copyright: Zubin Master, 2014 3 5 ICMJE 2013 Guidelines ICMJE recommendations may seem onerous, but their goal is to have researchers involved in the entire process of research – from conception to publication © Zubin Master, 2014 6 Satisfying Authorship for Non- English Researchers 2. Drafting the work or revising it critically for important intellectual content • Displaces LMIC researchers from satisfying criterion 2 if they don’t read/write in English • Drafting in native language and translating using a professional translator is costly and time consuming • Online tools are fraught with errors and requires massive edits by a native speaker 3. Final approval of the version to be published; AND 4. Agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved. © Zubin Master, 2014
- 4. 10/29/2014 Copyright: Zubin Master, 2014 4 7 Satisfying Authorship for Non- English Researchers • Drafting in native language and translating using a professional translator is costly and time consuming 3. Final approval of the version to be published; AND 4. Agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved. © Zubin Master, 2014 8 • ICMJE Criterion #3 (“revising the article critically”) can be interpreted to mean “reviewing” the article for important content Develop guidance in the context of GHR • LMIC author remains engaged in the drafting and reviewing of the manuscript, in addition to contributing in other ways © Zubin Master, 2014
- 5. 10/29/2014 Copyright: Zubin Master, 2014 5 9 The ICMJE recommends that authorship decisions should be made by all authors of a group and that the corresponding author should be prepared to explain the ranking. PI Authorship Order Based on Contribution © Zubin Master, 2014 10 Influences of Money, Power & Tasks in Authorship Ranking • HIC researchers may secure research funding and be involved in operating technically sophisticated experiments • LMIC researchers may be given reduced ranking because their contributions may be subject recruitment, data collection and other “technical tasks” • HIC researchers may request more prominent author positions & LMIC researchers may feel obliged to offer them © Zubin Master, 2014
- 6. 10/29/2014 Copyright: Zubin Master, 2014 6 11 • Some teams have elected to alternate the order of authors based on geographic location • Intent is to level the playing field and provide LMIC researchers with greater visibility and opportunity • Yet it is unclear whether authorship ranking remains the most appropriate way to level the playing field • Perhaps a disclosure statement explaining author order can be used to clarify and justify ranking © Zubin Master, 2014 12 Perceived Editorial Bias HIC Researchers LMIC Researchers • Several results show the underrepresentation of LMIC researchers in peer reviewed journals • Perhaps due to lack of human and financial resources, weaknesses in manuscript preparation, limited access to scientific research • Yet the available evidence on editorial bias is patchy and inconclusive • Yet even if LMIC & HIC researchers perceive a bias of editors, it may affect authorship practices © Zubin Master, 2014
- 7. 10/29/2014 Copyright: Zubin Master, 2014 7 13 • Perceived editorial bias may make researchers think it will help their paper get accepted if they have a HIC author in a senior or first author position AUTHORSHIP • HIC researchers may demand such positions and LMIC may allow them • Journals offer editing services, low cost for OA publications, and devote space for “local research” © Zubin Master, 2014 14 DIVERGENCE IN • Some RCR practices, possibly authorship, are based on norms and values in HIC Examples: • Reports of gender bias in S. African nations may displace women from higher ranking authorship positions • Anecdotal reports suggest that plagiarism shows a sign of respect in some cultures • Cultural differences between LMICs and HICs may result in authorship disputes © Zubin Master, 2014
- 8. 10/29/2014 Copyright: Zubin Master, 2014 8 15 1) Research on Research Integrity (RRI) • Perform more empirical and conceptual research on research integrity as it relates to authorship practices in the GHR context • E.g., how is authorship allocated; what should be the basis of authorship in GHR settings 2) Educate Researchers about Authorship in GHR • RCR education is a federal requirement in the US and promoted in many other countries • Build GHR-authorship education into current courses & workshops on RCR 3) Guidance on Authorship in Bioethics • What should be the criteria for authorship in GHR settings? • Should the ICMJE or other recommendations be amended © Zubin Master, 2014 16 • More research on authorship in the GHR setting is needed along with improved guidance and education for researchers • Authorship in GHR context produces unique challenges for researchers © Zubin Master, 2014
- 9. 10/29/2014 Copyright: Zubin Master, 2014 9 17 Acknowledgements Ms. Elise Smith • Dr. Bryn Williams-Jones • Dr. Mira Johri Dr. Matthew Hunt © Zubin Master, 2014 18 Acknowledgements • Various artists for images found on the web • Thank you for the invitation © Zubin Master, 2014
- 10. 10/29/2014 Copyright: Zubin Master, 2014 10 19 © Zubin Master, 2014