Mais do mesmo?

Abstract

The future of Epidemiology is a recurring theme of journals and conferences. The latest focus of this debate is the type of research question that guides epidemiological research. The focus on etiological issues must be set aside in favor of results that can support effective public health interventions (Kuller LH. Am J Epidemiol 2013; 177:279-80; Glass TA et al. Annu Rev Public Health 2013; 34:61-75). Rather than confirming associations between physical activity, diet, smoking and cardiovascular diseases, we need assessments of effective measures to alter the population distribution of these risk factors. Etiological research represents only one stage in the research agenda, which must then move on to results that can effectively be translated into public policy.Articles on Epidemiology constitute the largest share of submissions to Cadernos de Saúde Pública/Reports in Public Health. In most cases, these articles: report the results of cross-sectional studies; test causal associations between multiple factors and a defined outcome; adopt the p-value as the essential criterion for selecting variables; and follow overly simplified theoretical models. They take detailed care in data planning, collection, and processing, but contribute little to the advancement of scientific knowledge and have limited social impact.Interestingly, there is a common pattern in the investigation of causal hypotheses. There is, of course, nothing wrong with that, but in science we cannot content ourselves with well-established approaches. Epidemiology can now draw on a widely diversified arsenal of analytical tools, ranging from directed acyclic graphs, or DAG, useful for modeling determination chains based on counterfactual logic, to a set of techniques and methods for the study of complex phenomena, comprising a domain called Systems Science.This Editorial does not afford us enough space with which to conduct an in-depth reflection on the origins of this behavior. Still, one inevitably wonders whether this is yet another unwanted effect of "publish-or-perish". Innovation takes time, effort and, particularly, taking risks without fear of making mistakes (Alberts B, Science 2013; 340:787). We urgently need to break the vicious cycle of "more of the same". As Editors of CSP, we hope to publish articles that explore socially relevant issues in a creative and diversified manner.

A produção científica em Epidemiologia na Revista Ciência & Saúde Coletiva

“…All these characteristics are not exclusive to the articles published in Journal Ciência & Saúde Coletiva. In an editorial of great repercussion, published in 2013, the publishers of Cadernos de Saúde Pública described these issues in that journal and called this vicious circle "more of the same" 15 . Reasons for this lack of creativity and use of automated ways of doing science can be partially attributed to the academic pressure to publish in order to be successful in the academic career, the phenomenon called "publish or perish" 15 .…”

“…In an editorial of great repercussion, published in 2013, the publishers of Cadernos de Saúde Pública described these issues in that journal and called this vicious circle "more of the same" 15 . Reasons for this lack of creativity and use of automated ways of doing science can be partially attributed to the academic pressure to publish in order to be successful in the academic career, the phenomenon called "publish or perish" 15 . In Brazil, this situation was probably enhanced by the Capes post-graduation evaluation model, currently under review, which attributed greater importance to the quantity of products, to the detriment of their quality 23 .…”

“…In the area of Epidemiology, this high rate is due to several factors: descriptive articles with small sample size and/or based on convenience samples; cross-sectional studies answering questions that have been elucidated for a long time; analyses with little theoretical component; and very superficial discussions, comparing rather than interpreting the data. The lack of creativity produces articles containing "more of the same " 15 with little relevant contribution to the advancement of knowledge. In addition, the large number of submissions obliges the editorial staff to make selection based on priority, comparing articles and choosing the most promising ones.…”

“…Number and percentage of publications of Epidemiology in Journal Ciência & Saúde Coletiva, 1996-2002, 2011 and 2019.DiscussionEpidemiology is the field that currently concentrates most of the publications of Journal Ciência & Saúde Coletiva, as it already occurs with other Brazilian public health journals, such as Cadernos de Saúde Pública15 and Revista de Saúde Pública…”

Dias melhores virão!

“…This volume reiterates the journal's importance as a channel for science publication in Public Health and encourages us as Editors to renew our commitment to publishing articles that explore socially relevant research issues with creativity and diversity 1 .…”