EVALUATING SRI LANKA’S ROAD TRAFFIC CRASH AND INJURY RESEARCH: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW FOCUSING ON DATA SOURCES AND METHODOLOGICAL APPROACHES

Navodya C. Selvaratnam, Naren D. Selvaratnam, Patrick Lanter, Samath D. Dharmaratne, Peter C. Acker

Abstract


Sri Lanka has the worst mortality rate due to road traffic injuries in the South Asia region. Previous research serves as evidence for national-level policymaking and interventions, of which the reliability of data is doubted due to underreporting and inaccuracies. To comprehend the nature of this problem, a critical assessment of Sri Lanka’s existing road traffic crash and injury research is crucial. A mixed-methods systematic review was conducted by systematically searching five electronic databases: Medline (Ovid), Embase (Elsevier), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) (EBSCO), Web of Science (Clarivate), and Scopus against a pre-determined inclusion criterion. Studies were assessed for inclusion by two independent reviewers. A manual search of reference lists of eligible studies and a hand search on Google Scholar were also performed. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) was utilised to assess the methodological quality of studies. Data synthesis was guided by descriptive statistics and the thematic synthesis method. Thirty articles were included. Four broad themes were identified: 1. Data landscapes and data sources: Navigating the bias; 2. Geographical disparities: Concentration and variation in study locations; 3. Limitations in methodological and analytical diversity; and 4. Temporal disparities in research focus and frequency. Critical gaps were observed in data sources, methodological approaches, geographical coverage, and research timelines, all of which impact the effectiveness of preventive strategies. The observed limitations impel us to consider the applicability and reliability of existing evidence in shaping data-supported decision-making. Efforts may be directed at improving data sources and methodological approaches. Protocol registration: PROSPERO International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (CRD42024586530).

 

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road traffic crashes, road traffic injuries, injury control, injury prevention, road safety

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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.46827/ejphs.v8i2.214

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