Mediatrice NIYONSABA | Qualitative Hypotheses | Best Paper Award

Mrs Mediatrice NIYONSABA, Rwanda Biomedical center, Rwanda

Mediatrice Niyonsaba is a dedicated health professional and researcher. Currently a second-year Master’s student in Epidemiology at the University of Rwanda, she holds a Bachelor’s degree in Anesthesia from the same institution. Since 2012, she has served as an anesthesia clinical officer at RBC/SAMU 🚑. Her research includes co-authoring a study on motorcycle crash epidemiology in Kigali and assisting in several projects, including those on anemia in trauma, substance abuse screening, and the impact of COVID-19 on CNS injuries. She is the lead author of a study on mHealth tools in prehospital care, published in the African Journal of Emergency Medicine 📚.

Publication profile

scupos

Education

Since November 2021, she have been pursuing a Master of Science in Epidemiology at the University of Rwanda’s College of Medicine and Health Sciences 📚. I previously earned a Bachelor’s degree in Anesthesia from the same university (2015-2017) 🎓. My professional journey includes working as an anesthesia clinical officer at RBC/SAMU (Service d’Aide Medicale d’Urgence) since November 2012 🏥. Before that, I taught Biology at SAKE Secondary School from January to November 2009 👩‍🏫.

Experience

Since January 2019, I’ve been part of the SAMU team collaborating with Utah University to develop and pilot test a mobile health communication tool (912 m Health tool) aimed at enhancing emergency medical services 🚑. I co-authored “Epidemiology and prehospital care of motorcycle crashes in Kigali, Rwanda,” published in November 2019 🏍️. From January to April 2020, I was a research assistant for the Kigali Anemia in Trauma and Transfusion Study at CHUK 🏥. Between August 2020 and September 2021, I assisted in adapting screening instruments for detecting alcohol and drug abuse in Rwanda using ACASI 🍷💊. In late 2021, I contributed to research on the impact of COVID-19 on CNS injury treatment and outcomes 🧠. Recently, I authored “Challenges and opportunities to improve efficiency and quality of prehospital emergency care using an m Health platform,” published in the African Journal of Emergency Medicine in September 2023 📚.

Research focus

Dr. Sharmistha Jayaraman’s research focuses primarily on improving prehospital emergency care and trauma management in low-resource settings, particularly in Rwanda. Her studies encompass various aspects of emergency medical services (EMS), including challenges in locating emergency scenes 🚑, enhancing efficiency through m Health platforms 📱, neurotrauma management 🧠, and the epidemiology of trauma, such as motorcycle crashes 🏍️. Additionally, Dr. Jayaraman investigates the initial management of traumatic brain injuries and factors influencing HIV testing among emergency patients. Her work aims to improve healthcare outcomes by addressing critical gaps in prehospital care and emergency response systems in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Publication top notes

Challenges Locating the Scene of Emergency: A Qualitative Study of the EMS System in Rwanda

Challenges and opportunities to improve efficiency and quality of prehospital emergency care using an mHealth platform: Qualitative study in Rwanda

Trends in Neurotrauma Epidemiology, Management, and Outcomes during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Kigali, Rwanda

Factors associated with HIV testing among patients seeking emergent injury care in Kigali, Rwanda

The Initial Prehospital Management of Traumatic Brain Injuries in Kigali, Rwanda

The epidemiology and prehospital care of motorcycle crashes in a sub-Saharan African urban center

Data-driven prehospital training to decrease motorcycle crash deaths in a Sub-Saharan African urban center

Qualitative Breakthrough Award

Introduction:

Welcome to the Qualitative Breakthrough Award, recognizing individuals who push the boundaries of qualitative research to uncover new insights, perspectives, and understandings. This esteemed award celebrates innovators who challenge conventional thinking and pave the way for transformative qualitative inquiry.

Award Overview:

The Qualitative Breakthrough Award honors individuals who demonstrate exceptional creativity, rigor, and impact in qualitative research, fostering deeper understanding and advancing knowledge across diverse fields and disciplines.

Eligibility:

Open to researchers, scholars, and practitioners employing qualitative methods in their work
No age limits apply
Qualification: Demonstrated excellence in qualitative research methodology and analysis
Publications: Evidence of qualitative research findings published in peer-reviewed journals or presented at academic conferences
Recurrements: Continued engagement in qualitative research and innovation in methodological approaches

Evaluation Criteria:

Candidates will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

Innovation and originality in qualitative research design and methodology
Depth and richness of insights generated through qualitative data analysis
Contribution to advancing knowledge and understanding within a specific field or discipline
Potential for broader impact on theory, practice, or policy

Submission Guidelines:

Submit a comprehensive biography highlighting qualitative research expertise and achievements
Include an abstract summarizing the qualitative breakthrough, methodology, and key findings
Provide supporting files such as research papers, interview transcripts, field notes, or qualitative data analyses

Recognition:

Recipients of the Qualitative Breakthrough Award will receive:

A prestigious award certificate
Recognition at a prominent academic conference or symposium
Opportunities for collaboration and networking with qualitative research experts and practitioners

Community Impact:

Winners of the award are expected to inspire and empower others in the qualitative research community, fostering a culture of innovation, reflexivity, and rigor in qualitative inquiry.

Biography:

A detailed biography outlining the candidate's qualitative research background, expertise, and contributions to the field is required.

Abstract and Supporting Files:

Candidates must submit an abstract summarizing their qualitative breakthrough, methodology, and key findings, along with supporting files such as research papers, interview transcripts, field notes, or qualitative data analyses to showcase the depth and impact of their work.