MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
SAMRC-Wits Developmental Pathways for Health Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
J Phys Act Health. 2023 Nov 7;21(2):113-114. doi: 10.1123/jpah.2023-0611. Print 2024 Feb 1.
In the rapidly evolving landscape of global health research, the tension between scientific rigor and contextual meaning presents a critical challenge. Drawing on our work with the Global Diet and Physical Activity Network, this commentary explores the complexities of conducting environmental audits for physical activity and diet in 4 rapidly urbanizing African cities: Yaoundé, Lagos, Cape Town, and Soweto. We illustrate the competing demands and tensions that researchers face in balancing rigor and meaning. We discuss the adaptation of internationally validated audit tools to local contexts and the importance of area-level deprivation in interpreting data. We also examine the feasibility of virtual assessment tools, emphasizing the value of local expertise. We argue for a balanced approach that marries research rigor with contextual meaning, advocating for transparency, humility, and meaningful community engagement.
在全球健康研究迅速发展的背景下，科学严谨性与背景意义之间的紧张关系提出了一个关键挑战。本文通过与全球饮食和体育活动网络的合作，探讨了在 4 个快速城市化的非洲城市（雅温得、拉各斯、开普敦和索韦托）进行体育活动和饮食环境审计的复杂性。我们展示了研究人员在平衡严谨性和意义时所面临的相互竞争的需求和紧张关系。我们讨论了国际上经过验证的审计工具在当地环境中的适应性，以及在解释数据时区域贫困程度的重要性。我们还研究了虚拟评估工具的可行性，强调了当地专业知识的价值。我们主张采取一种平衡的方法，将研究的严谨性与背景意义相结合，倡导透明性、谦逊性和有意义的社区参与。
