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Review Article
Research Literacy as a Core Healthcare Leadership Competency: Strengthening Evidence-Based Public Health Decision-Making Through Research Methods and Statistics
Issue:
Volume 14, Issue 4, August 2026
Pages:
179-188
Received:
25 May 2026
Accepted:
8 June 2026
Published:
11 July 2026
DOI:
10.11648/j.ajhr.20261404.11
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Abstract: Healthcare leadership increasingly requires more than administrative efficiency, communication skill, and operational oversight. In contemporary public health systems, leaders are expected to interpret evidence, evaluate data quality, understand research designs, assess uncertainty, and translate findings into practical policy and program decisions. This manuscript argues that research literacy should be recognized as a core healthcare leadership competency because evidence-based decision-making depends on leaders’ ability to understand research methods and statistics. Research literacy enables leaders to differentiate strong evidence from weak evidence, interpret quantitative and qualitative findings, evaluate program outcomes, and make transparent decisions in complex health systems. Drawing on principles of research methodology, hierarchy of evidence, epidemiology, program evaluation, and evidence-informed policymaking, the paper discusses how healthcare leaders can use research methods and statistics to improve public health planning, resource allocation, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation. It also highlights the risks of evidence-blind leadership, including inefficient spending, poorly targeted interventions, weak accountability, and preventable health inequities. The paper concludes that research literacy should be embedded in healthcare leadership education, institutional decision-making structures, and continuing professional development. A research-literate healthcare leader is not necessarily a full-time researcher, but must be able to ask answerable questions, critically appraise evidence, interpret statistical findings, engage with technical experts, and translate knowledge into ethical, equitable, and context-sensitive public health action.
Abstract: Healthcare leadership increasingly requires more than administrative efficiency, communication skill, and operational oversight. In contemporary public health systems, leaders are expected to interpret evidence, evaluate data quality, understand research designs, assess uncertainty, and translate findings into practical policy and program decisions...
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Research Article
Epidemiological Characteristics, Incidence Trends and Prediction of Lung Cancer in Kailu County from 2009 to 2022 Based on APC and ARIMA Models
Issue:
Volume 14, Issue 4, August 2026
Pages:
189-197
Received:
3 May 2026
Accepted:
4 June 2026
Published:
11 July 2026
DOI:
10.11648/j.ajhr.20261404.12
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Abstract: Objective: To understand the epidemiological characteristics of lung cancer in Kailu County from 2009 to 2022, to analyze the long-term trend of lung cancer incidence by age-period-cohort (APC) model, and to predict the incidence from 2023 to 2025 by using the autoregressive integral moving average model (ARIMA) model. Methods: Based on the incidence and death data of lung cancer and household registration in Kailu County from 2009 to 2022, the crude morbidity (death) rate, the standardized incidence (death) rate of China's population, and the standardized incidence (death) rate of the world population were calculated by gender and age. The Joinpoint regression model was used to calculate the APC of China's population standardization rate. The APC model was constructed to study the age distribution characteristics, incidence trend and birth cohort effect of lung cancer. The ARIMA model was used to predict the trend of lung cancer incidence from 2023 to 2025. Results: The crude incidence and crude mortality rate of lung cancer in Kailu County from 2009 to 2022 were 44.75/100,000 and 34.86/100,000, respectively. The standardized incidence (death) rate of China's population is 41.96/100,000 (32.85/100,000), and the standardized incidence (death) rate of the world population is 36.17/100,000 (33.42/100,000). The incidence and mortality rates were significantly higher in males than in females (P<0.05). The standardized incidence of lung cancer in China showed an upward trend from 2009 to 2014 (APC=24.86%, P<0.05), decreased year by year from 2014 to 2022 (APC=-8.07%, P<0.05), and the standardized mortality rate of the Chinese population increased from 2009 to 2014 (APC=36.26%, P<0.05), and showed a downward trend from 2014 to 2022 (APC=-9.33%, P<0.05); The results of the APC model showed that the risk of lung cancer peaked at the age of 50-54 in men and reached the peak at the age of 60-64 in women. The prediction results of the ARIMA(0,1,0) model show that the incidence of lung cancer in the county will show a slow downward trend from 2023 to 2025. Conclusion: From 2009 to 2022, the epidemic characteristics of lung cancer in Kailu County showed a trend of first rising and then decreasing, and there were obvious age and gender differences in incidence and death, it was necessary to continue to carry out lung cancer surveillance and strengthen prevention and control publicity and intervention in high-risk groups to reduce the burden of lung cancer disease.
Abstract: Objective: To understand the epidemiological characteristics of lung cancer in Kailu County from 2009 to 2022, to analyze the long-term trend of lung cancer incidence by age-period-cohort (APC) model, and to predict the incidence from 2023 to 2025 by using the autoregressive integral moving average model (ARIMA) model. Methods: Based on the inciden...
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Case Report
Lumbosciatica Indicative of an Intradural Lumbar Spinal Arachnoid Cyst
Henri Lankoande*
,
Wendlassida Joelle Stephanie Tiendrebeogo/Zabsonre,
Denlewende Sylvain Zabsonre,
Yakouba Haro,
Souleymane Ouattara,
Fulgence Kabore,
Abdoulaye Sanou,
Inoussa Zoungrana,
Dieu-Donne Ouedraogo
Issue:
Volume 14, Issue 4, August 2026
Pages:
198-203
Received:
2 June 2026
Accepted:
15 June 2026
Published:
27 July 2026
DOI:
10.11648/j.ajhr.20261404.13
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Abstract: Introduction. Spinal arachnoid cysts (SAC) are uncommon lesions that result from a small defect in the arachnoid resulting in an intradural or extradural arachnoid hernia. Their diagnosis is misleading. Surgery is required when SAC is symptomatic. The modalities of this surgery are still the subject of controversy. We report an unusual case of intradural lumbar SAC. Observation. A 43-year-old man consulted for a right L5 lumbosciatica evolving for at least 7 years. Rheumatological examination noted lumbar spinal syndrome and radicular syndrome. The neurological examination was normal. Lumbar CT scan had shown discrete protrusive disc disease. Medical treatment had been prescribed. In view of the persistence of pain, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was prescribed. This was performed 6 months later when the patient had experienced a worsening type of cauda equina syndrome. This MRI had objectified signs in favor of an intradural lumbar SAC. The patient was transferred to neurosurgery. Cyst excision was performed and histology had confirmed the arachnoid nature of the cyst wall. The postoperative follow-up was simple and the patient had to recover completely from his neurological deficits. Conclusion. The diagnosis of SAC can be misleading and late in the stage of significant neurological disorders. Do not hesitate to request an MRI for a rebellious lumbosciatica with a normal CT scan in a patient without neurological deficits.
Abstract: Introduction. Spinal arachnoid cysts (SAC) are uncommon lesions that result from a small defect in the arachnoid resulting in an intradural or extradural arachnoid hernia. Their diagnosis is misleading. Surgery is required when SAC is symptomatic. The modalities of this surgery are still the subject of controversy. We report an unusual case of intr...
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Research Article
National Health Risk Assessment and Mapping Using the WHO Strategic Tool for Assessing a Risk (STAR), in Madagascar from 2022 to 2025
Issue:
Volume 14, Issue 4, August 2026
Pages:
204-218
Received:
27 February 2026
Accepted:
13 June 2026
Published:
27 July 2026
DOI:
10.11648/j.ajhr.20261404.14
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Abstract: Madagascar regularly faces disasters and health emergencies. It is one of the countries vulnerable to various disaster risks and climate change. Since 2014, the country has been affected by large-scale epidemics and natural disasters. In order to strengthen prevention, preparedness, response, and resilience to health threats, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that countries conduct a health risk assessment and mapping as the first step in the emergency management cycle in the context of limited resources and update the risk profile every three years. The objectives are to identify and characterize the various priority health risks in Madagascar, assess the probability of their occurrence, estimate their potential impact, determine the estimated level of risk, categorize them, and map them in order to formulate key recommendations. This is a qualitative, multisectoral, and multi-hazard assessment, combined with national health risk mapping using the WHO's Strategic Tool for Assessing Risk (STAR). The first assessment was conducted in 2022, followed by an update of the health risk profile in 2025. The results obtained in 2022 identified 23 health threats out of the 96 identified. In 2025, during the update, 21 threats were retained, including 3 threats that were removed.
Abstract: Madagascar regularly faces disasters and health emergencies. It is one of the countries vulnerable to various disaster risks and climate change. Since 2014, the country has been affected by large-scale epidemics and natural disasters. In order to strengthen prevention, preparedness, response, and resilience to health threats, the World Health Organ...
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