AccScience Publishing / JCTR / Online First / DOI: 10.36922/jctr.24.00071
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MEDICAL HYPOTHESIS

A systematic review protocol of medical and clinical research landscapes and quality in Malaysia and Indonesia (REALQUAMI)

Boon-How Chew1* ,  Shaun Wen Huey Lee2 ,  Lim Poh Ying3 ,  Soo Huat Teoh4 ,  Aneesa Abdul Rashid1 ,  Navin Kumar Devaraj1 ,  Adibah Hanim Ismail1 ,  Abdul Hadi Abdul Manap1 ,  Fadzilah Mohamad1 ,  Aaron Fernandez5 ,  Hanifatiyah Ali1 ,  Puteri Shanaz Jahn Kassim1 ,  Nurainul Hana Shamsuddin1 ,  Noraina Muhamad Zakuan6 ,  Akiza Roswati Abdullah7 ,  Indah S. Widyahening8
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1 Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
2 School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia
3 Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
4 Advanced Medical and Dental Institute (AMDI), Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kepala Batas, Penang, Malaysia
5 Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
6 Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
7 Medical and Health Sciences Library, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
8 Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
JCTR, 00071 https://doi.org/10.36922/jctr.24.00071
Submitted: 22 October 2024 | Revised: 12 December 2024 | Accepted: 11 March 2025 | Published: 4 April 2025
© 2025 by the Author(s). This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution -Noncommercial 4.0 International License (CC-by the license) ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ )
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Abstract

Background: The evolving landscape of clinical and biomedical research has raised concerns about waste and quality. Poorly conducted studies mislead clinical practice and compromise patient outcomes. Reliable data from past research are essential for research quality improvement. Aim: The aim of the study was to characterize and assess the quality of research in Malaysia and Indonesia. Methods: To establish the proposed systematic review protocol, we will search PubMed, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, and PsycINFO for studies published from 1962 to 2019, supplemented by MyMedR for Malaysian research. Two reviewers will independently screen studies, extract data, and assess quality. Phase 1 will descriptively report research characteristics, including researcher profiles and journal outlets. In Phase 2, a quality screening tool will be validated across three domains: relevance, methodological credibility, and result usefulness. Associations between research characteristics and quality will be analyzed through multivariable regression and longitudinal trends will be explored. Results: Findings from the proposed systematic review protocol will generate baseline data for national and international comparisons, guiding stakeholders, researchers, funders, and policymakers on research evolution and quality trends. Results may inform improvement initiatives and resource allocation for understudied areas. Conclusion: This review aims to establish a comprehensive baseline of research outputs and the pattern of research quality in the participating countries and discipline. The findings may underscore the presence of a valid classification method to guide future research and enhance evidence-based practice in healthcare. Relevance for patients: By identifying research strengths and gaps, this proposed systematic review supports the development of robust study designs that generate reliable evidence, ultimately enhancing patient care and health outcomes.

Keywords
Systematic review
Clinical research
Biomedical research
Research characteristics
Research quality
Malaysia
Indonesia
Funding
None.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
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Journal of Clinical and Translational Research, Electronic ISSN: 2424-810X Print ISSN: 2382-6533, Published by AccScience Publishing
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