Mapping COVID-19 related research from Saudi Arabia, a scoping review: Between reality and dreams

Authors

• Ibrahim Almaghlouth, From the Department of Medicine, College of Medicine (Almaghlouth, Alfadda, Almadi, BaHammam), from the College of Medicine Research Center (Almaghlouth, Islam, Alsultan, Alfadda, Almadi, Hersi, BaHammam), from Immunology Research Center (Almaghlouth, Alfadda, Al-muhsen, Almasry), College of Medicine, from the Department of Family and Community Medicine (Alamro, Hersi), from the Obesity Research Center and the Department of Internal Medicine (Alsultan, Alfadda), from the Department of Pediatrics (Al-muhsen), from the Department of Cardiac Sciences (Hersi), College of Medicine, and from Prince Nayef Health Sciences Research Center (BaHammam), King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
• Tahera Islam, From the Department of Medicine, College of Medicine (Almaghlouth, Alfadda, Almadi, BaHammam), from the College of Medicine Research Center (Almaghlouth, Islam, Alsultan, Alfadda, Almadi, Hersi, BaHammam), from Immunology Research Center (Almaghlouth, Alfadda, Al-muhsen, Almasry), College of Medicine, from the Department of Family and Community Medicine (Alamro, Hersi), from the Obesity Research Center and the Department of Internal Medicine (Alsultan, Alfadda), from the Department of Pediatrics (Al-muhsen), from the Department of Cardiac Sciences (Hersi), College of Medicine, and from Prince Nayef Health Sciences Research Center (BaHammam), King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
• Nurah Alamro, From the Department of Medicine, College of Medicine (Almaghlouth, Alfadda, Almadi, BaHammam), from the College of Medicine Research Center (Almaghlouth, Islam, Alsultan, Alfadda, Almadi, Hersi, BaHammam), from Immunology Research Center (Almaghlouth, Alfadda, Al-muhsen, Almasry), College of Medicine, from the Department of Family and Community Medicine (Alamro, Hersi), from the Obesity Research Center and the Department of Internal Medicine (Alsultan, Alfadda), from the Department of Pediatrics (Al-muhsen), from the Department of Cardiac Sciences (Hersi), College of Medicine, and from Prince Nayef Health Sciences Research Center (BaHammam), King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
• Abdulrahman Alsultan, From the Department of Medicine, College of Medicine (Almaghlouth, Alfadda, Almadi, BaHammam), from the College of Medicine Research Center (Almaghlouth, Islam, Alsultan, Alfadda, Almadi, Hersi, BaHammam), from Immunology Research Center (Almaghlouth, Alfadda, Al-muhsen, Almasry), College of Medicine, from the Department of Family and Community Medicine (Alamro, Hersi), from the Obesity Research Center and the Department of Internal Medicine (Alsultan, Alfadda), from the Department of Pediatrics (Al-muhsen), from the Department of Cardiac Sciences (Hersi), College of Medicine, and from Prince Nayef Health Sciences Research Center (BaHammam), King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
• Assim Alfadda, From the Department of Medicine, College of Medicine (Almaghlouth, Alfadda, Almadi, BaHammam), from the College of Medicine Research Center (Almaghlouth, Islam, Alsultan, Alfadda, Almadi, Hersi, BaHammam), from Immunology Research Center (Almaghlouth, Alfadda, Al-muhsen, Almasry), College of Medicine, from the Department of Family and Community Medicine (Alamro, Hersi), from the Obesity Research Center and the Department of Internal Medicine (Alsultan, Alfadda), from the Department of Pediatrics (Al-muhsen), from the Department of Cardiac Sciences (Hersi), College of Medicine, and from Prince Nayef Health Sciences Research Center (BaHammam), King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
• Saleh Al-muhsen, From the Department of Medicine, College of Medicine (Almaghlouth, Alfadda, Almadi, BaHammam), from the College of Medicine Research Center (Almaghlouth, Islam, Alsultan, Alfadda, Almadi, Hersi, BaHammam), from Immunology Research Center (Almaghlouth, Alfadda, Al-muhsen, Almasry), College of Medicine, from the Department of Family and Community Medicine (Alamro, Hersi), from the Obesity Research Center and the Department of Internal Medicine (Alsultan, Alfadda), from the Department of Pediatrics (Al-muhsen), from the Department of Cardiac Sciences (Hersi), College of Medicine, and from Prince Nayef Health Sciences Research Center (BaHammam), King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
• Abeer Almasry, From the Department of Medicine, College of Medicine (Almaghlouth, Alfadda, Almadi, BaHammam), from the College of Medicine Research Center (Almaghlouth, Islam, Alsultan, Alfadda, Almadi, Hersi, BaHammam), from Immunology Research Center (Almaghlouth, Alfadda, Al-muhsen, Almasry), College of Medicine, from the Department of Family and Community Medicine (Alamro, Hersi), from the Obesity Research Center and the Department of Internal Medicine (Alsultan, Alfadda), from the Department of Pediatrics (Al-muhsen), from the Department of Cardiac Sciences (Hersi), College of Medicine, and from Prince Nayef Health Sciences Research Center (BaHammam), King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
• Majid A. Almadi, From the Department of Medicine, College of Medicine (Almaghlouth, Alfadda, Almadi, BaHammam), from the College of Medicine Research Center (Almaghlouth, Islam, Alsultan, Alfadda, Almadi, Hersi, BaHammam), from Immunology Research Center (Almaghlouth, Alfadda, Al-muhsen, Almasry), College of Medicine, from the Department of Family and Community Medicine (Alamro, Hersi), from the Obesity Research Center and the Department of Internal Medicine (Alsultan, Alfadda), from the Department of Pediatrics (Al-muhsen), from the Department of Cardiac Sciences (Hersi), College of Medicine, and from Prince Nayef Health Sciences Research Center (BaHammam), King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
• Ahmad Hersi, From the Department of Medicine, College of Medicine (Almaghlouth, Alfadda, Almadi, BaHammam), from the College of Medicine Research Center (Almaghlouth, Islam, Alsultan, Alfadda, Almadi, Hersi, BaHammam), from Immunology Research Center (Almaghlouth, Alfadda, Al-muhsen, Almasry), College of Medicine, from the Department of Family and Community Medicine (Alamro, Hersi), from the Obesity Research Center and the Department of Internal Medicine (Alsultan, Alfadda), from the Department of Pediatrics (Al-muhsen), from the Department of Cardiac Sciences (Hersi), College of Medicine, and from Prince Nayef Health Sciences Research Center (BaHammam), King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
• Ahmed BaHammam, From the Department of Medicine, College of Medicine (Almaghlouth, Alfadda, Almadi, BaHammam), from the College of Medicine Research Center (Almaghlouth, Islam, Alsultan, Alfadda, Almadi, Hersi, BaHammam), from Immunology Research Center (Almaghlouth, Alfadda, Al-muhsen, Almasry), College of Medicine, from the Department of Family and Community Medicine (Alamro, Hersi), from the Obesity Research Center and the Department of Internal Medicine (Alsultan, Alfadda), from the Department of Pediatrics (Al-muhsen), from the Department of Cardiac Sciences (Hersi), College of Medicine, and from Prince Nayef Health Sciences Research Center (BaHammam), King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Objectives: To map research production by Saudi-affiliated investigators in order to identify areas of strength and weakness. Method: We followed the Arksey and O’Malley (2005) framework. Medline and Cochrane databases were searched with a focus on identifying articles related to COVID-19 and Saudi Arabia following the PRISMA protocol. The study was conducted at King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia between March and May 2020. Results: A total of 53 articles were ultimately included. Most of the research production from Saudi Arabia was opinion and narrative reviews related to the clinicopathological features of COVID-19 as well as control and prevention of virus spread. Conclusion: The results of this scoping review identify a relative deficiency in original research, which requires further investigation.

Article Type

Review

First Page

791

Last Page

801

Recommended Citation

Almaghlouth, Ibrahim; Islam, Tahera; Alamro, Nurah; Alsultan, Abdulrahman; Alfadda, Assim; Al-muhsen, Saleh; Almasry, Abeer; Almadi, Majid A.; Hersi, Ahmad; and BaHammam, Ahmed (2020) "Mapping COVID-19 related research from Saudi Arabia, a scoping review: Between reality and dreams," Saudi Medical Journal: Vol. 41: Iss. 8, Article 3.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15537/smj.2020.8.25163