Research training has been identified as the foundation for all programmes in the health science professions. [1] Undergraduate exposure is associated with improved scholarship [2] -a key competency that is promoted by the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA). [3] Familiarity with doing or using research fosters analytical thinking and develops skills for informed decision-making in patient service delivery and care. [4] Although not all rehabilitation students may become primary researchers, all practitioners will need to evaluate, interpret and use research for evidence-based practice (EBP). [5] Previous studies investigating research competencies for undergraduates predominantly focused on the medical and nursing professions. [6][7][8] However, certain competencies may be more relevant to rehabilitation. [9,10] Rehabilitation students should be equipped with knowledge, skills, attitudes and tasks that are relevant to the current clinical context and professional research needs. For example, knowledge of pretrial studies or alternative designs to traditional randomised controlled trials (e.g. practice-based evidence trials [10] and health services research [11] ) may be particularly important for rehabilitation research. [10] Although not synonymous, EBP and research are closely related concepts. [4] Educators in rehabilitation are increasingly restructuring research curricula towards EBP. [12,13] Research training may be used to cover EBP, and vice versa. [1,14] The Sicily Statement on EBP provides a five-step framework to use when developing curricula: (i) research question formulation; (ii) searching for best evidence; (iii) critically evaluating the evidence; (iv) applying the evidence to clinical practice; and (v) monitoring performance. [15] However, an investigation of existing physiotherapy coursework and EBP coverage [14] indicated that some research competencies are poorly defined in the learning outcomes, while others are not addressed at all. A standardised set of minimum core research competencies needs to be defined more explicitly to benchmark standards for research methods (RM) training in the undergraduate rehabilitation curriculum.Recently, 86 EBP competencies were identified in a systematic review involving health professionals, regardless of the discipline or level of training. [16] The findings were generalised to all health professions, leaving it to educators to 'advance competencies depending on the needs and desires of learners' . [16] No similar reviews exist that focus on research competencies or rehabilitation. This review aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of the existing literature regarding core research competencies that may be required by rehabilitation undergraduates. As a secondary outcome, a list of recommendations regarding the implementation of such competencies was compiled. MethodsA scoping review was conducted according to the methodological framework developed by Arksey and O'Malley [17] and refined by Levac et al. [18] The six-step process includes...

ObjectivesRecent research has indicated seemingly increased propensity for falls and accelerated bone demineralisation in people living with HIV (PLWH). We aim to map out the extent and nature of existing research relating to falls in PLWH and describe the relationship between bone demineralisation and falls in PLWH.MethodsA scoping review was done following Arksey & O’Malley’s methodological framework and recommendations from Joanna Briggs Institute. Four databases were searched until October 2019 for peer-reviewed studies available in English reporting on the definition, prevalence, assessment, risk factors and interventions for falls in PLWH as well as information on bone demineralisation linked to falls in PLWH. Narrative reviews were excluded. Two reviewers independently performed the extraction using a predesigned Excel sheet. A descriptive analysis of extracted information was done.ResultsFourteen studies on falls in older PLWH were identified, with all but one study conducted in high-income countries. Prevalence of falls in PLWH ranged from 12% to 41%. Variable assessment tools/tests were used to assess potential risk factors, but it remains to be determined which are more predictive and appropriate for use among PLWH. Considerable agreement existed for risk factors regarding use of medications while evidence regarding functional and cognitive impairments were variable. Few studies compared risk factors for falls in PLWH with those in age-matched and sex-matched seronegative population. There is currently no evidence for interventions to prevent or reduce falls risk in PLWH.ConclusionMore research is needed on falls in younger cohorts of PLWH and in sub-Saharan Africa where HIV is most prevalent and more robust clades exist. More studies need to report on data in seronegative controls to determine risk factors unique to PLWH. More intervention studies targeted at falls prevention and promotion of bone health are required. Quality clinical practice guidelines highlighting validated assessment tools and outcome measures need to be developed.

Collaborative capacity development to complement stroke rehabilitation in AfricaPublished by AOSIS Books, an imprint of AOSIS Publishing.