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Self-Centric and Altruistic Unmet Needs for Ebola: Barriers to International Preparedness

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 June 2016

Linda H.M. Van de Burgwal ,
Leslie A. Reperant Open the ORCID record for Leslie A. Reperant [Opens in a new window] ,
Albert D.M.E. Osterhaus Open the ORCID record for Albert D.M.E. Osterhaus [Opens in a new window] ,
Sorana C. Iancu ,
Esther S. Pronker  and
Eric Claassen
Linda H.M. Van de Burgwal*
Affiliation:
Athena Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands Artemis One Health Research Foundation, Utrecht, Netherlands
Leslie A. Reperant
Affiliation:
Artemis One Health Research Foundation, Utrecht, Netherlands
Albert D.M.E. Osterhaus
Affiliation:
Artemis One Health Research Foundation, Utrecht, Netherlands Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany Viroclinics BV, Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Sorana C. Iancu
Affiliation:
Athena Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Esther S. Pronker
Affiliation:
Viroclinics BV, Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Eric Claassen
Affiliation:
Athena Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands Artemis One Health Research Foundation, Utrecht, Netherlands
*
Correspondence and reprint requests to Linda van de Burgwal, Athena Institute, Faculty of Earth- and Life Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081HV, Amsterdam, the Netherlands (e-mail: [email protected]).
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Abstract

Objective

Barriers to international Ebola preparedness may be elucidated by identifying heterogeneities in arguments to invest in countermeasures during “peace time.”

Methods

For each patent family (related patent documents that differed only by limited alterations to the same invention) concerning Ebola and published until the end of 2014 the oldest patent document was analyzed. Grounded theory coding identified 5 unmet needs for (1) vaccines and therapies, (2) control of outbreaks in endemic areas, (3) detection and control of outbreaks in nonendemic areas, (4) better understanding of filoviruses, and (5) protection against bioterrorism. Odds ratios for unmet needs by geographic regions and institution types were compared by using Pearson’s chi-square test.

Results

Statistically significant heterogeneities in unmet need profiles were found. US applicants combined self-centric and altruistic arguments, focusing on medical unmet needs and bioterrorism protection. Russian and Asian applicants emphasized self-centric motives, specifically, detection and control of nonendemic outbreaks. A clear, statistically significant mismatch between industry and academia was found: whereas industrial applicants focused on bioterrorism and neglected detection and control of nonendemic outbreaks, academic applicants did the opposite.

Conclusions

This research identified heterogeneities in articulated needs between geographic regions and stakeholder types. Structural articulation of unmet needs may form the basis for attuning stakeholder engagement strategies while progression across the demand-driven value chain might necessitate international concordance. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2016;10:644–648)

Keywords

public policypublic healthneeds assessmentinternational cooperation
Type
Brief Reports
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 10 , Issue 4 , August 2016 , pp. 644 - 648
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 2016 

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References

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Van de Burgwal supplementary material

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