Mutual research capacity strengthening: a qualitative study of two-way partnerships in public health research

Abstract

IntroductionCapacity building has been employed in international health and development sectors to describe the process of ‘experts’ from more resourced countries training people in less resourced countries. Hence the concept has an implicit power imbalance based on ‘expert’ knowledge. In 2011, a health research strengthening workshop was undertaken at Atoifi Adventist Hospital, Solomon Islands to further strengthen research skills of the Hospital and College of Nursing staff and East Kwaio community leaders through partnering in practical research projects. The workshop was based on participatory research frameworks underpinned by decolonising methodologies, which sought to challenge historical power imbalances and inequities. Our research question was, “Is research capacity strengthening a two-way process?”MethodsIn this qualitative study, five Solomon Islanders and five Australians each responded to four open-ended questions about their experience of the research capacity strengthening workshop and activities: five chose face to face interview, five chose to provide written responses. Written responses and interview transcripts were inductively analysed in NVivo 9.ResultsSix major themes emerged. These were: Respectful relationships; Increased knowledge and experience with research process; Participation at all stages in the research process; Contribution to public health action; Support and sustain research opportunities; and Managing challenges of capacity strengthening. All researchers identified benefits for themselves, their institution and/or community, regardless of their role or country of origin, indicating that the capacity strengthening had been a two-way process.ConclusionsThe flexible and responsive process we used to strengthen research capacity was identified as mutually beneficial. Using community-based participatory frameworks underpinned by decolonising methodologies is assisting to redress historical power imbalances and inequities and is helping to sustain the initial steps taken to establish a local research agenda at Atoifi Hospital. It is our experience that embedding mutuality throughout the research capacity strengthening process has had great benefit and may also benefit researchers from more resourced and less resourced countries wanting to partner in research capacity strengthening activities.

Del lado de allá y del lado de acá: ¿qué pueden aprender mutuamente los países emergentes latinoamericanos y España para mejorar sus perfiles del médico de familia?

“…En este sentido, se han comunicado la utilidad del intercambio de programas formativos Norte-Sur, pero suelen referirse a aportes del Norte hacia el Sur subdesarrollado que precisa ser formado y ayudado. La integración de la mutualidad o asociación entre países durante los procesos de aprendizaje-enseñanza e investigación tienen un gran beneficio mutuo, pudiéndose beneficiar los profesionales e investigadores de los países con más recursos y menos recursos logrando un fortalecimiento de capacidades en ambos 7,27,28 .…”

“…Sin embargo, el "Sur" no sólo recibe ideas, sino que las genera también 5,6 . En esta situación, faltan estudios comparativos del perfil profesional del MdF -organización del trabajo, actividades, competencias y responsabilidades, satisfacción profesional, relación médico-paciente, etc.-en países industrializadas y emergentes, siendo preciso favorecer la investigación y formación como procesos de doble vía, así como la evaluación adecuada de las fortalezas de los sistemas sanitarios de los países en desarrollo y las redes de colaboración entre países en desarrollo y desarrollados [7][8][9] .…”

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“…17 Investigators developed an ordinal scale to assess the frequency, intensity and duration of contact between cases and the puppy with the assessment performed by an ACF staff member familiar with the affected staff and residents. The results showed most contact instances were unplanned, involved occasional patting of the puppy and occurred no more than once or twice per week.…”

“…Similar low coverage of clean cord care was seen in Southern Nepal among home deliveries, increasing the risk of umbilical infections by 29% (due to topical applications) and 62% (due to other unclean practices). 17 A randomized controlled trial in Pakistan showed that training TBAs and their integration into the health system to propagate newer safe practices, such as cord care, were effective in reducing neonatal mortality by 30%. 20 We need to consider strategies to better engage the TBAs to increase the adoption of these practices.…”

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