IndiaCLEN - Journal of Clinical Epidemiology

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Foundation, ''to improve the health of the populations of developing countries by ... ways about exotic design and earth-shaking findings. It is as much about ...
Journal of Clinical Epidemiology 66 (2013) 3

IndiaCLEN INCLEN was established in 1980 by the Rockefeller Foundation, ‘‘to improve the health of the populations of developing countries by promoting healthcare based on the best evidence of effectiveness and the efficient use of resources’’ [1,2]. In 2007, the Journal of Clinical Epidemiology established a strategic alliance with INCLEN in support of this noble cause [3]. This proved to be a challenging partnership, with JCE, a repository for global innovative clinical epidemiology methodology, providing a resource for publications for INCLEN, an organization that often uses established rather than new clinical epidemiology methodology to address domestic needs in remote areas. In a way, the journal’s track record of technical excellence became an obstacle to encouraging articles that had immediate social relevance, which are as much a part of mainline clinical epidemiology. In an attempt to bridge this schism, in 2010 the Journal planned to commission a series of articles that would give its readers a view of activities that characterize the various INCLEN countries. We begin the journey in this issue with the Indian Clinical Epidemiology Network. The 10 articles published herein form a palette that paints a rich collage of activities characterizing the frontlines of clinical epidemiology in India. Topics covered range from the quality of randomized controlled trials published in India [4], to the history of evidence-based medicine in India [5], to risk factors for tuberculosis among hospital employees [6]. Methodologies used range from a formal economic analysis of Zinc supplementation for childhood diarrhea [7], to validation of screening instruments for intellectual disabilities [8], to basic community surveys on antimicrobial resistance patterns for pneumococcus [9]. Some of these topics would not have normally been accepted by the Journal on their own, because they seem routine and ‘‘local.’’ However, the purpose of these publications is to give readers an idea of the range of problems faced by clinical epidemiologists in India, and the range of methodologies they use to seek solutions to these dilemmas. At the end of the day, clinical epidemiology is not always about exotic design and earth-shaking findings. It is as much about local needs in poor countries around the

world, and how local physicians find ways to address them. In this sense, this series is a showcase of how vibrant and active IndiaCLEN has been, despite the meager funds available to run the organization. In this issue, the Journal of Clinical Epidemiology is proud to give its readers a slice of life from clinical epidemiology in this part of the world. Special thanks go out to all of the contributing authors who worked hard to get their papers ready, and our guest editor, Dr. Kurien Thomas of the Christian Medical College, Vellore, India, who provided the dynamic leadership to put this series together. Antonio M. Dans Leonila F. Dans E-mail addresses: [email protected] (A.M. Dans) or [email protected] (L.F. Dans) References [1] INCLEN Trust website. Available at http://www.inclentrust.org/page. php?idZ192. Accessed June 12, 2012. [2] Macfarlane SB, Evans TG, Muli-Musiime FM, Prawl OL, So AD. Global health research and INCLEN. International Clinical Epidemiology Network. Lancet 1999;353:503. [3] Nk Arora, Dans AL, Lansang MD. The JCE-INCLEN collaboration: knowledge sharing in action. J Clin Epidemiol 2007;60:537e9. [4] Tharyan P, George AT, Kirubakaran R, Barnabas JP. Reporting of methods was better in the Clinical Trials Registry-India than in Indian journal publications. J Clin Epidemiol 2013;66:10e22 [in this issue]. [5] Prasad K. Evidence based medicine in India. J Clin Epidemiol 2013;66:6e9 [in this issue]. [6] Mathew A, David T, Thomas K, Kuruvilla PJ, Balaji V, Jesudason MV, et al. Risk factors for tuberculosis among health care workers in South India: A nested case control study. J Clin Epidemiol 2013;66:67e74 [in this issue]. [7] Patel AB, Badhoniya NB, Dibley MJ. Zinc and copper supplementation are not cost effective intervention in the treatment of acute diarrhea. J Clin Epidemiol 2013;66:52e61 [in this issue]. [8] Mammen P, Russell P, Nair MKC, Russell S, Kishore C, Shankar SR. Development and psychometric validation of the Brief Intellectual Disability Scale (BIDS) for use in low health resource, high burden countries. J Clin Epidemiol 2013;66:30e35 [in this issue]. [9] Thomas K, Lalitha MK, Balaji V, Sudha J, Mitra S. Kulkarni P, et al, IBIS Study Group IndiaCLEN Network. Invasive Pneumococcal disease associated with high case fatality in India: can this be prevented? J Clin Epidemiol 2013;66:36e43 [in this issue].

0895-4356 Ó 2013 Published by Elsevier Inc. Open access under CC BY-NC-ND license. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinepi.2012.10.009