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

• Published in: Saudi medical journal Vol. 41; no. 8; pp. 791 - 801
• Main Authors: Almaghlouth, Ibrahim, Islam, Tahera, Alamro, Nurah, Alsultan, Abdulrahman, Alfadda, Assim, Al-Muhsen, Saleh, Almasry, Abeer, Almadi, Majid A, Hersi, Ahmad, BaHammam, Ahmed
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Saudi Arabia Saudi Medical Journal 01.08.2020
• Subjects: Betacoronavirus; Biomedical Research; Coronavirus Infections - diagnosis; Coronavirus Infections - therapy; COVID-19; Humans; Pandemics; Pneumonia, Viral - diagnosis; Pneumonia, Viral - therapy; SARS-CoV-2; Saudi Arabia; Systematic Review; Saudi Arabia; China
• ISSN: 0379-5284; 1658-3175
• DOI: 10.15537/SMJ.2020.8.25163

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.