Vision for a global registry of anticipated public health studies.
In public health, the generation, management, and transfer of knowledge all need major improvement. Problems in generating knowledge include an imbalance in research funding, publication bias, unnecessary studies, adherence to fashion, and undue interest in novel and immediate issues. Impaired generation of knowledge, combined with a dated and inadequate process for managing knowledge and an inefficient system for transferring knowledge, mean a distorted body of evidence available for decisionmaking in public health. This article hopes to stimulate discussion by proposing a Global Registry of Anticipated Public Health Studies. This prospective, comprehensive system for tracking research in public health could help enhance collaboration and improve efficiency. Practical problems must be discussed before such a vision can be further developed.
Choi
Bernard C K
BC
Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Control, Public Health Agency of Canada, Government of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Bernard_ Choi@phac-aspc.gc.ca
Frank
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Mindell
Jennifer S
JS
Orlova
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A
Lin
Vivian
V
Vaillancourt
Alain D M G
AD
Puska
Pekka
P
Pang
Tikki
T
Skinner
Harvey A
HA
Marsh
Marsha
M
Mokdad
Ali H
AH
Yu
Shun-Zhang
SZ
Lindner
M Cristina
MC
Sherman
Gregory
G
Barreto
Sandhi M
SM
Green
Lawrence W
LW
Svenson
Lawrence W
LW
Sainsbury
Peter
P
Yan
Yongping
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Zhang
Zuo-Feng
ZF
Zevallos
Juan C
JC
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SC
de Salazar
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D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000592:standards*; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D011634:Public Health; D012042:Registries / Q000592:standards*