title: A systematic literature review of the quality of evidence for injury and rehabilitation interventions in humanitarian crises.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Humanitarian crises continue to pose a significant threat to health; the United Nations estimates that 144 million people are directly affected by conflict or environmental disasters. During most humanitarian crises, surgical and rehabilitative interventions remain a priority.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This review assessed the quality of evidence that informs injury and physical rehabilitation interventions in humanitarian crises.
  
  
  METHODS
  Peer-reviewed and grey literature sources were assessed in a systematic manner. Selected papers were evaluated using quality criteria based on a modified version of the STROBE protocol.
  
  
  RESULTS
  46 papers met the inclusion criteria. 63 % of the papers referred to situations of armed conflict, of which the Yugoslav Wars were the most studied crisis context. 59 % of the studies were published since the year 2000. However, only two studies were considered of a high quality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While there is now a greater emphasis on research in this sector, the volume of evidence remains inadequate given the growing number of humanitarian programmes worldwide. Further research is needed to ensure a greater breadth and depth of understanding of the most appropriate interventions in different settings.
authors: Public Health in Humanitarian Crises Group, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK. james.dominic.smith@gmail.com.
authors: James
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8768-1918
authors: J
authors: Smith
authors: ECOHOST-The Centre for Health and Social Change, The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
authors: Bayard
authors: B
authors: Roberts
authors: Public Health in Humanitarian Crises Group, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
authors: Abigail
authors: A
authors: Knight
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, USA.
authors: Richard
authors: R
authors: Gosselin
authors: Public Health in Humanitarian Crises Group, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
authors: Karl
authors: K
authors: Blanchet
mesh_terms: D000533:Altruism; D004190:Disasters; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D010348:Patient Care Team; D012046:Rehabilitation; D012066:Relief Work; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000534:rehabilitation; D014837:Voluntary Health Agencies; D014857:Warfare; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000628:therapy
keywords: Conflict; Disasters; Global surgery; Humanitarianism; Injury; Rehabilitation