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Table 1 Description of research types covered in the review

From: Malaria research in Malawi from 1984 to 2016: a literature review and bibliometric analysis

Type of research

Description of research type

Example

Secondary research

This type of research involves analysis of already conducted studies (primary research) that have been published. It involves analyzing, summarizing and interpreting relevant primary research based on the writing topic [25]

Kabaghe AN, Visser BJ, Spijker R, Phiri KS, Grobusch MP, Vugt M. Health workers’ compliance to rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) to guide malaria treatment: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Malaria journal. 2016;15(1):1

Primary research

This is a type of research where the collection of primary data from subjects or experiments is involved. It is sometimes referred to as original research [26]

Includes basic, clinical, epidemiological, and Health Policy and Systems Research

 Basic research

This is also referred to as fundamental or experimental research, which involves studying life processes to generate new knowledge or theories that can be applied universally. It includes among others cell studies, animal experiments, and genetic and physiological investigations [26]

Barnes KG, Irving H, Chiumia M, Mzilahowa T, Coleman M, Hemingway J, Wondji CS. Restriction to gene flow is associated with changes in the molecular basis of pyrethroid resistance in the malaria vector Anopheles funestus. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 2016;201615458

 Clinical research

This can be experimental or observational with the purpose of answering specific questions on diseases and normal functioning by using human subjects. It intends to assess the safety and effectiveness of drugs, or diagnostic products for human use [26]

Dambe R, Sande J, Ali D, Chilima B, Dodoli W, Michelo C, Malenga G, Phiri KS. Monitoring the efficacy of artemether-lumefantrine for the treatment of uncomplicated malaria in Malawian children. Malaria journal. 2015;14(1):1

 Epidemiological research

This can be descriptive, analytical or interventional with the purpose of investigating the distribution of determinants and patterns of disease frequencies in a given population. Understanding of the factors lead to strategic disease control and prevention [26]

Jonker FA, Calis JC, van Hensbroek MB, Phiri K, Geskus RB, Brabin BJ, Leenstra T. Iron status predicts malaria risk in Malawian preschool children. PLoS One. 2012;7(8):e42670

 Health Policy and Systems Research

Its aim is to improve a health system and involves the generation of new knowledge on how societies can organize themselves for the achievements of health goals. This type of research is mainly used by policy makers and health service manager for decision making [27]

Includes Operational, implementation, health systems, and health policy research

  Health systems research

This is a multidisciplinary field of scientific investigation on any or several WHO six building blocks of a health system that include service delivery, information and evidence, medical products and technology, health workforce, health financing, and leadership and governance [22]

Yoder PS, Nsabagasani X, Eckert E, Moran A, Yé Y. Perspectives of health care providers on the provision of intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy in health facilities in Malawi. BMC health services research. 2015;15(1):354

  Health policy research

This type of research seeks to understand the nature of health policies and the interaction of various factors in the policy development process and implementation [27]

Mwendera C, de Jager C, Longwe H, Phiri K, Hongoro C, Mutero CM. Malaria research and its influence on anti-malarial drug policy in Malawi: a case study. Health Research Policy and Systems. 2016;14(1):1

  Implementation research

The purpose of this research is to find tangible strategies of scaling up or implementation of an existing or new intervention proven efficacious in order to improve its accessibility to the wider population [22]

Almond D, Madanitsa M, Mwapasa V, Kalilani-Phiri L, Webster J, Kuile F, Paintain L. Provider and user acceptability of intermittent screening and treatment for the control of malaria in pregnancy in Malawi. Malaria Journal. 2016;15(1):574

  Operational research

This seeks to find solutions to address operational challenges to a specific health programme in a given area. The challenges are usually identified through the routine monitoring and evaluation activities [22]

Ewing VL, Tolhurst R, Kapinda A, Richards E, Terlouw DJ, Lalloo DG. Increasing understanding of the relationship between geographic access and gendered decision-making power for treatment-seeking for febrile children in the Chikwawa district of Malawi. Malaria Journal. 2016;15(1):521