BRIDGE – Bridging Research Integrity and Global Health Epidemiology

The BRIDGE guidelines are good epidemiological practice (GEP) guidelines specifically for global health epidemiology.

Why are specific GEP guidelines needed for global health?

Research integrity and research fairness have gained considerable momentum in the past decade and have direct implications for global health epidemiology. Existing good epidemiological practice guidelines developed by national epidemiological associations lack international legitimacy and are not tailored to the idiosyncrasies of global health. Existing guidelines for fair and equitable partnerships in global health are not specific to epidemiology. Comprehensive guidelines which tackle both integrity and fairness are needed to provide practical support to epidemiologists navigating the complex global health landscape.

How were these guidelines developed?

We developed the BRIDGE guidelines through a Delphi consultation study involving experts with a wide range of experience and expertise in global health and epidemiology.

For whom are these guidelines?

The BRIDGE guidelines are for all people involved in the commissioning, conduct and appraisal of global health research.

What is the aim of the guidelines?

The BRIDGE guidelines foster high-quality epidemiological studies with impact where it is needed the most: in the local communities and local research systems where the research is conducted.

What do the guidelines look like?

The BRIDGE guidelines bring together existing principles for research integrity and fairness in one checklist. The checklist focuses on practical implications for research and covers the six steps of study implementation: study preparation, study protocol and ethical review, data collection, data management, analysis, reporting and dissemination.