Andorra as a living lab? The inSCI example

Area of Science:

• Global Health
• Health Services Research
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Small population countries often face neglect in international health research, hindering their capacity building.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) highlights the need to address research disparities in smaller nations.
• Limited research infrastructure can impede data collection and analysis in small countries.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe Andorra's participation in the international Spinal Cord Injury (InSCI) survey.
• To evaluate the benefits of international collaboration for health research capacity in small countries.
• To demonstrate how small nations can enhance health information collection.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive analysis was conducted on Andorra's health research landscape.
• Andorra's engagement process and outcomes within the InSCI survey were documented.
• The study assessed the impact on research capacity and governmental support.

Main Results:

• Andorra successfully engaged in the international InSCI survey.
• Participation led to measurable improvements in Andorra's health research capacity.
• Enhanced governmental support for health research was observed.

Conclusions:

• International health surveys offer a viable pathway for small countries to build research capacity.
• Andorra's experience validates the WHO's recommendations for improving health information collection in small nations.
• Participation in international collaborations can be achieved while maintaining high methodological standards.