Research

National priorities for perioperative research in South Africa

Bruce M Biccard, Christella S Alphonsus, David G Bishop, Larissa Cronje, Hyla-Louise Kluyts, Belinda Kusel, Salome Maswime, Ravi Oodit, Anthony R Reed, Alexandra M Torborg, Robert Wise

Abstract


Background. Perioperative research is currently unco-ordinated in South Africa (SA), with no clear research agenda.

Objective. To determine the top ten national research priorities for perioperative research in SA.

Methods. A Delphi technique was used to establish consensus on the top ten research priorities.

Results. The top ten research priorities were as follows: (i) establishment of a national database of (a) critical care outcomes, and (b) critical care resources; (ii) a randomised controlled trial of preoperative B-type natriuretic peptide-guided medical therapy to decrease major adverse cardiac events following non-cardiac surgery; (iii) a national prospective observational study of the outcomes associated with paediatric surgical cases; (iv) a national observational study of maternal and fetal outcomes following operative delivery in SA; (v) a stepped-wedge trial of an enhanced recovery after surgery programme for (a) surgery, (b) obstetrics, (c) emergency surgery, and (d) trauma surgery; (vi) a stepped-wedge trial of a surgical safety checklist on patient outcomes in SA; (vii) a prospective observational study of perioperative outcomes after surgery in district general hospitals in SA; (viii) short-course interventions to improve anaesthetic skills in rural doctors; (ix) studies of the efficacy of simulation training to improve (a) patient outcomes, (b) team dynamics, and (c) leadership; and (x) development and validation of a risk stratification tool for SA surgery based on the South African Surgical Outcomes Study (SASOS) data.

Conclusions. These research priorities provide the structure for an intermediate-term research agenda.

Authors' affiliations

Bruce M Biccard, Department of Anaesthesia and Perioperative Medicine, Groote Schuur Hospital and Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Perioperative Research Group, Discipline of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care, School of Clinical Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa

Christella S Alphonsus, Perioperative Research Group, Discipline of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care, School of Clinical Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa

David G Bishop, Perioperative Research Group, Discipline of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care, School of Clinical Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa

Larissa Cronje, Perioperative Research Group, Discipline of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care, School of Clinical Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa

Hyla-Louise Kluyts, Department of Anaesthesiology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, South Africa

Belinda Kusel, Perioperative Research Group, Discipline of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care, School of Clinical Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa

Salome Maswime, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

Ravi Oodit, Discipline of General Surgery, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town and Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa; Matley and Partners, Cape Town, South Africa

Anthony R Reed, Department of Anaesthesia and Perioperative Medicine, Groote Schuur Hospital and Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa

Alexandra M Torborg, Perioperative Research Group, Discipline of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care, School of Clinical Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa

Robert Wise, Perioperative Research Group, Discipline of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care, School of Clinical Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa

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Keywords

Research; Perioperative outcomes; South Africa

Cite this article

South African Medical Journal 2016;106(5):485-488. DOI:10.7196/SAMJ.2016.v106i5.10269

Article History

Date submitted: 2015-10-30
Date published: 2016-03-31

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