Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 4 complete abstracts (588 words), 10 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
Organizational development including enhancement of management structures, processes and procedures, within organizations and among different organizations and sectors to meet present and future needs.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Building, Capacity.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Health Care Facilities Workforce and Services; Organization and Administration; Pandemic Preparedness
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 4,311 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Capacity Building” (counts retrieved 2026-10-31). 1,750 of them (40.6%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is 2010-2019 with 2,579 records.
Reviews account for 415 records (9.6%) and meta-analyses for 5. Randomized controlled trials number 48 (1.1%) as a share of all records on the topic. Randomized trials make up only a small share of this literature, so much of what is known comes from laboratory, observational or descriptive work.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 0 |
| 2000-2009 | 37 |
| 2010-2019 | 2,579 |
| 2020 onward | 1,750 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 415 | 9.6% |
| Meta-analyses | 5 | 0.1% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 48 | 1.1% |
Method: PubMed query "Capacity Building"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-10-31.
Reading the evidence in public health and nutrition
Population and nutrition studies mostly observe what people eat, breathe or are exposed to and then look for links with health, which shows association and not proof of cause. Self-reported diet is imprecise, people who eat or live differently also differ in other ways, and effects measured across a population may not apply to one person. Check the study design, how exposure was measured, what else was accounted for and the size of the effect, not only whether it was statistically significant.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
Planetary Health Education and Capacity Building for Healthcare Professionals in a Global Context: Current Opportunities, Gaps and Future Directions [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- The emerging concept of planetary health needs to be discussed in a more organized and sustainable way within the global public health and healthcare disciplines.
- Closing excerpt
- We therefore recommend a dedicated network of motivated healthcare professionals and regional hubs with an agenda to ensure a comprehensive, uniform, and inclusive planetary health education curriculum and practice.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (167 words)
The emerging concept of planetary health needs to be discussed in a more organized and sustainable way within the global public health and healthcare disciplines. Therefore, planetary health should be considered a cardinal component of the global academic framework for healthcare professionals. The availability of related curricula and courses is crucial to equip health professionals in this relatively new discipline of planetary health. In this review article, we aimed to explore published articles and online databases of courses to summarize the available planetary health education opportunities and discussions for health professionals, to identify the gaps in resource allocation and to suggest future recommendations. We observed a visible resource inequity in the global south with the lack of a universal planetary health module for healthcare professionals. Additionally, there is minimal inclusion of allied health disciplines in this learning process. We therefore recommend a dedicated network of motivated healthcare professionals and regional hubs with an agenda to ensure a comprehensive, uniform, and inclusive planetary health education curriculum and practice.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 36142057 · DOI · PMC9517386
Comprehensive application of a systems approach to obesity prevention: a scoping review of empirical evidence [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- A systems approach to obesity prevention is increasingly urged.
- Closing excerpt
- More well-designed and reported studies are needed, especially from low- and middle-income countries.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (146 words)
A systems approach to obesity prevention is increasingly urged. However, confusion exists on what a systems approach entails in practice, and the empirical evidence on this new approach is unclear. This scoping review aimed to identify and synthesise studies/programmes that have comprehensively applied a systems approach to obesity prevention in intervention development, delivery/implementation, and evaluation. By searching international databases and grey literature, only three studies (10 publications) met inclusion criteria, which might be explained partially by suboptimal reporting. No conclusion on the effectiveness of this approach can be drawn yet due to the limited evidence base. We identified common features shared by the included studies, such as measuring ongoing changes, in addition to endpoint outcomes, and supporting capacity building. Some facilitators and barriers to applying a comprehensive systems approach in practice were identified. More well-designed and reported studies are needed, especially from low- and middle-income countries.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 37614454 · DOI · PMC10442543
Global infectious disease research collaborations in crises: building capacity and inclusivity through cooperation [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- BackgroundThe initial research requirements in pandemics are predictable.
- Closing excerpt
- ConclusionFacilitating international cooperation, by building capacity in established collaborative platforms and in low- and middle-income countries, is imperative to efficiently answering the priority clinical research questions that can change the trajectory of a pandemic.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (131 words)
BackgroundThe initial research requirements in pandemics are predictable. But how is it possible to study a disease that is so quickly spreading and to rapidly use that research to inform control and treatment?Main bodyIn our view, a dilemma with such wide-reaching impact mandates multi-disciplinary collaborations on a global scale. International research collaboration is the only means to rapidly address these fundamental questions and potentially change the paradigm of data sharing for the benefit of patients throughout the world. International research collaboration presents significant benefits but also barriers that need to be surmounted, especially in low- and middle-income countries.ConclusionFacilitating international cooperation, by building capacity in established collaborative platforms and in low- and middle-income countries, is imperative to efficiently answering the priority clinical research questions that can change the trajectory of a pandemic.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 34311748 · DOI · PMC8313114
Training the Trainers: Building Capacity for Early Detection of First-Episode Psychosis in Primary Care [4]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- BackgroundEarly detection of first-episode psychosis (FEP) is critical for improving long-term outcomes.
- Closing excerpt
- Empowering professionals as educators is a critical step to strengthen community mental health and improve access to treatment.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (144 words)
BackgroundEarly detection of first-episode psychosis (FEP) is critical for improving long-term outcomes. Training healthcare professionals to identify and intervene at the earliest stages is a key strategy for reducing the duration of untreated psychosis (DUP).ObjectiveTo describe a capacity-building programme, based on a 'Training of Trainers' (ToT) model designed to empower healthcare professionals to become multipliers of knowledge on early FEP detection within their communities.MethodsA 72-h blended learning course using problem-based learning (PBL) was delivered to 47 healthcare professionals to build competencies in FEP identification and referral.ResultsThe 47 participants reported an increase in self-perceived confidence in identifying FEP symptoms. Participant satisfaction was high, with an average score of 9.0 out of 10.ConclusionThe ToT model is a feasible and well-received strategy for training professionals in early FEP detection. Empowering professionals as educators is a critical step to strengthen community mental health and improve access to treatment.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42503993 · DOI · PMC13402770
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article Health research capacity development in low and middle income countries: reality or rhetoric? A systematic meta-narrative review of the qualitative literature [5]
- Research article A framework for scaling up health interventions: lessons from large-scale improvement initiatives in Africa [6]
- Research article Building Capacity for Evidence-Based Public Health: Reconciling the Pulls of Practice and the Push of Research [7]
- Research article Narrative review of models and success factors for scaling up public health interventions [8]
- Research article Public health perspectives of preeclampsia in developing countries: implication for health system strengthening [9]
- Research article Genomic-informed pathogen surveillance in Africa: opportunities and challenges [10]
References
- Asaduzzaman M, Ara R, Afrin S, Meiring JE, Saif-Ur-Rahman KM. Planetary Health Education and Capacity Building for Healthcare Professionals in a Global Context: Current Opportunities, Gaps and Future Directions. . 2022. PMID 36142057 · DOI · PMC9517386
- Li B, Alharbi M, Allender S, Swinburn B, Peters R, Foster C. Comprehensive application of a systems approach to obesity prevention: a scoping review of empirical evidence. . 2023. PMID 37614454 · DOI · PMC10442543
- Fanning JP, Murthy S, Obonyo NG, Baillie JK, Webb S, Dalton HJ, et al.. Global infectious disease research collaborations in crises: building capacity and inclusivity through cooperation. . 2021. PMID 34311748 · DOI · PMC8313114
- Noto C, Rosa FH, Vargas HO, Porcu M, Machado RCBR, Nunes SOV. Training the Trainers: Building Capacity for Early Detection of First-Episode Psychosis in Primary Care. . 2026. PMID 42503993 · DOI · PMC13402770
- Franzen SR, Chandler C, Lang T. Health research capacity development in low and middle income countries: reality or rhetoric? A systematic meta-narrative review of the qualitative literature. BMJ Open. 2017. PMID 28131997 · DOI · PMC5278257
- Barker PM, Reid A, Schall MW. A framework for scaling up health interventions: lessons from large-scale improvement initiatives in Africa. Implement Sci. 2016. PMID 26821910 · DOI · PMC4731989
- Brownson RC, Fielding JE, Green LW. Building Capacity for Evidence-Based Public Health: Reconciling the Pulls of Practice and the Push of Research. Annu Rev Public Health. 2018. PMID 29166243 · DOI · PMC5972383
- Milat AJ, Bauman A, Redman S. Narrative review of models and success factors for scaling up public health interventions. Implement Sci. 2015. PMID 26264351 · DOI · PMC4533941
- Osungbade KO, Ige OK. Public health perspectives of preeclampsia in developing countries: implication for health system strengthening. J Pregnancy. 2011. PMID 21547090 · DOI · PMC3087154
- Inzaule SC, Tessema SK, Kebede Y, Ogwell Ouma AE, Nkengasong JN. Genomic-informed pathogen surveillance in Africa: opportunities and challenges. Lancet Infect Dis. 2021. PMID 33587898 · DOI · PMC7906676
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-11-04; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-11-04.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.