Research & training:improve quality of care for neurological disorders in Uganda

说明(申请人提供)：尽管神经系统疾病是导致发病率和死亡率的主要原因，但在乌干达，这一专业的研究和培训相对较少。缺乏关于神经系统疾病流行病学和临床结果的高质量数据，也很少有神经学的现场专家。乌干达对神经系统疾病的大部分研究都是在1980年之前进行的，在过去的30年里很少或根本没有进行过研究。这种情况导致社区的认识水平较低，诊断延迟，结果较差，对神经疾病的初级保健反应不佳。我们建议扩大我们在传染病方面非常成功的研究合作，将神经学包括在内，目标是设计一个项目，大幅提高乌干达的研究和培训能力，并解决神经学领域领导者的严重短缺问题。利用已经建立的教育、研究和服务机构，并利用已经授予的培训补助金中的以社区为基础的教育、研究和服务(COERS)网站，将支持对医学生进行神经学风险评估和初级保健方面的培训。此外，还将为住院医生提供硕士学位课程，并为年轻教师提供短期奖学金和博士培训，以发展神经病学的临床和研究事业。这一MEPI方案将纳入乌干达两所主要医学院的现有培训框架内，即Makerere大学健康科学学院(MakCHS)和乌干达烈士大学，以确保其可持续性。凯斯西储大学将提供访问教师和导师，并为乌干达神经学住院医生和教师提供短期奖学金计划。这项建议符合乌干达政府的卫生部门战略计划，该计划强调将神经疾病预防能力建设作为其核心优先事项之一。到这个项目结束时，将有相当数量的人员接受培训。相关性：改善本国的神经学专门知识和更好地了解神经系统疾病的流行病学知识，对于协助卫生部制定治疗和控制神经系统疾病的有效政策至关重要，并将改善结果。1

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Despite the great importance of neurological diseases as the projected leading causes of morbidity and mortality, research and training in this specialty has been relatively neglected in Uganda. There is lack of good quality data on the epidemiology of neurological diseases and on clinical outcomes and few on-site experts in neurology. Most of the research on neurological diseases in Uganda was done before 1980 and little or no research has been conducted in the last 30 years. This situation translates into low levels of awareness in the communities, delayed diagnoses, poorer outcomes and sub-optimal primary care responses to neurological diseases. We propose to expand our highly successful research collaborations in infectious diseases to include neurology, with the goal of designing a program that will substantially improve the capacity for research and training in Uganda and to address the critical shortage of leaders in neurology. Leveraging on the already established MEPI structures and the using the community-based education, research and service (COBERS) sites in the already awarded training grant, training of medical students in neurology risk assessment and primary care will be supported. In addition, master's degree programs for residents and short term fellowships and PhD training for young faculty will be provided to develop clinical and research careers in neurology. This MEPI program will be integrated within the existing framework of training at two major medical schools in Uganda namely Makerere University College of Health Sciences (MakCHS) and Uganda Martyrs University to ensure its sustainability. Case Western Reserve University will provide visiting faculty and mentorship and provide short term fellowship programs for Ugandan neurology residents and faculty. This proposal is in line with the government of Uganda Health Sector Strategic Plan that highlights building capacity for neurological disease prevention as one of its core priorities. By the end of this program, a critical mass of personnel will have been trained. Relevance: Improved in-country neurology expertise and better knowledge of the epidemiology of neurological disease will be critical to assist the Ministry of Health in establishing effective policies for the treatmnt and control of neurological diseases and will improve outcomes. 1