Understanding the Ghanaian Neurosurgical Literature: A Scoping Review and Bibliometric Analysis

Nancy Abu-Bonsrah; Olaoluwa Ezekiel Dada; Joseline Haizel-Cobbina; Alvan Ukachukwu; Marcus Spann; Kojo Okyere Adu; Mabel Banson; Dickson Bandoh; Kwadwo Sarpong; David Dadey; Mawuli Ametefe; Ulrick Sidney Kanmounye; Teddy Totimeh; Mari L Groves

doi:10.1016/j.wneu.2022.10.044

Understanding the Ghanaian Neurosurgical Literature: A Scoping Review and Bibliometric Analysis

World Neurosurg. 2023 Jan:169:12-19. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2022.10.044. Epub 2022 Oct 17.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Research Department, Association of Future African Neurosurgeons, Yaounde, Cameroon. Electronic address: nabubon1@jhmi.edu.
² Research Department, Association of Future African Neurosurgeons, Yaounde, Cameroon.
³ Vanderbilt Institute of Global Health, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
⁴ Duke Global Neurosurgery and Neurology, Duke Hospital Department of Neurosurgery, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
⁵ Informationist Services, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
⁶ Department of Internal Medicine, LEKMA Hospital, Accra, Ghana.
⁷ Department of Neurosurgery, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana.
⁸ Department of Neurosurgery, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana.
⁹ Department of Neurosurgery, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
¹⁰ Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, San Francisco, California, USA.
¹¹ Department of Neurosurgery, University of Ghana Medical Center, Accra, Ghana.
¹² Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

PMID: 36265747
DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2022.10.044

Abstract

Background: Research serves to bolster clinical neurosurgery by critically assessing various disease pathologies, while identifying important challenges and opportunities. However, there is limited information on the landscape of the Ghanaian neurosurgical literature.

Methods: A scoping review and bibliometric analysis was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. PubMed, Embase, Global Index Medicus, and Web of Science electronic databases were searched from inception until December 21, 2021 for English language articles about neurosurgery in Ghana.

Results: 927 articles were identified and 66 were ultimately included in the analysis. A majority of them, 42.4%, were retrospective cohort studies, with 62.1% published after 2010. There were no randomized controlled or basic science studies. Most articles were published in the West African Journal of Medicine (24.2%) and non-infectious/non-traumatic spinal pathology was the most commonly discussed topic (22.7%); 66.7% of articles included only authors affiliated with Ghanaian institutions, and international collaborators frequently originated from the United States (15.9%). Only 22.7% of the manuscripts reported a funding source. Commonly reported challenges included limited sample sizes, delays in diagnosis and treatment, and lack of proper diagnostic tools and specialized care.

Conclusions: This review revealed that while the Ghanaian academic neurosurgery output has been increasing over time, these have been limited to cohort studies largely assessing spine pathology. The Ghanaian neurosurgical research environment may be bolstered by an increase in research funding, the establishment of longitudinal clinical databases, training in research methodology, increased incentives for researchers, strengthening of research collaborative networks, and increased engagement of neurosurgical trainees in research.

Keywords: Bibliometrics; Ghana; Limited resources; Low- and middle-income countries; Neurosurgery; Scoping review.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Bibliometrics*
Ghana
Humans
Neurosurgery*
Neurosurgical Procedures
Retrospective Studies
United States