Operational research in low-income countries: what, why, and how?

Zachariah, Rony; Harries, Anthony; Ishikawa, Nobukatsu; Rieder, Hans L.; Bissell, Karen; Laserson, Kayla F.; Massaquoi, Moses; Herp, Micheal Van; Reid, Tony

doi:10.1016/s1473-3099(09)70229-4

Cited by 166 publications

(213 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…Some of the programmatic challenges include inadequate or irrelevant research questions, lack of time and opportunity, lack of research infrastructure, and lack of knowledge about how to translate research findings into policy and practice [6]. In particular, capacity to conduct and publish research is seriously lacking [64].…”

Section: Thinking Ahead On Task Areas For Implementation and Related mentioning

confidence: 99%

The HIV/AIDS epidemic in sub‐Saharan Africa: thinking ahead on programmatic tasks and related operational research

Zachariah¹,

Damme

Arendt³

et al. 2011

Journal of the International AIDS Society

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Until now, we have all been desperately trying to run behind the HIV/AIDS epidemic and catch up with it, but despite all our efforts, the epidemic remains well ahead of us. In 2010, the antiretroviral treatment (ART) gap was about 60%, AIDS-related deaths were almost two million a year, and on top of these figures, for every one person started on ART, there were two new HIV infections. What is needed to change this situation is to think ahead of the epidemic in terms of the programmatic tasks we will be faced with and try to act boldly in trying to implement those tasks. From a programmatic perspective, we: a) highlight what needs to fundamentally change in our thinking and overall approach to the epidemic; and b) outline a number of key task areas for implementation and related operational research.

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Section: Thinking Ahead On Task Areas For Implementation and Related mentioning

confidence: 99%

The HIV/AIDS epidemic in sub‐Saharan Africa: thinking ahead on programmatic tasks and related operational research

Zachariah¹,

Damme

Arendt³

et al. 2011

Journal of the International AIDS Society

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“…A number of published works describe mechanisms to strengthen capacity development, or to improve outcomes of health research in Africa [9,17,20,22–26], yet little is known about the results of these programmes. In addition, measuring the success of these strategies is not easy [9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Closing the barrier between disease and health outcomes in Africa through research and capacity development

Kramer

Libhaber

2018

Global Health Action

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Background: While the burden of disease in Africa is high, health research emanating from the continent is low. Building human capacity and research infrastructure to close the gap between research and disease is thus of great imporatance. Objective: In order to improve research outputs and postgraduate training in the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, the Health Sciences Research Office put in place a series of strategic initiatives over time. Methods: A range of strategic activities, for both postgraduate students and academic staff, were developed in parallel and sequentially over a period of approximately nine years (2008–2016). The latter years were a time of consolidation of the programmes. Outcomes of these activities were ‘measured’ by increases in publications, decreases in time to graduation and enrichment of the research environment. Results: A doubling of research publications and an increase in citations occurred over the period under review. In addition, there was a decrease in the time postgraduate students took to graduate. Conclusions: A varied, but structured research management plan may be of value in African and other developing health sciences institutions to enable the increase in research outputs and capacity development, desperately needed to close the barrier between disease and health.

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“…Operational research (OR), from a public health perspective, has been defined as the search for knowledge on interventions, strategies or tools that can enhance the quality, coverage, effectiveness or performance of the health system, specific health services or disease control programmes in which the research is being conducted [1]. OR is gaining recognition and importance in public health, guiding national research agendas and programme implementation to achieve desired results [1,2].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…OR is gaining recognition and importance in public health, guiding national research agendas and programme implementation to achieve desired results [1,2]. Despite this, the implementation of OR is poor, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where it has a vital role to play.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Despite this, the implementation of OR is poor, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where it has a vital role to play. One of the main reasons for this short-coming is the lack of capacity in conducting OR [1,3]. The International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union), Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR) at the World Health Organization (WHO), have pioneered a programme of integrated OR and capacity building known as the Structured Operational Research and Training Initiative (SORT IT).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Does the Structured Operational Research and Training Initiative (SORT IT) continue to influence health policy and/or practice?

Tripathy

Kumar

Guillerm

et al. 2018

Global Health Action

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Background: The Structured Operational Research and Training Initiative (SORT IT) is a successful model of integrated operational research and capacity building with about 90% of participants completing the training and publishing in scientific journals. Objective: The study aims at assessing the influence of research papers from six SORT IT courses conducted between April 2014 and January 2015 on policy and/or practice. Methods: This was a cross-sectional mixed-method study involving e-mail based, self-administered questionnaires sent to course participants coupled with telephone/Skype/in-person responses from participants, senior facilitators and local co-authors of course papers. A descriptive content analysis was performed to generate themes. Results: Of 71 participants, 67 (94%) completed the course. A total of 67 papers (original research) were submitted for publication, of which 61 (91%) were published or were in press at the censor date (31 December 2016). Among the 67 eligible participants, 65 (97%) responded to the questionnaire. Of the latter, 43 (66%) research papers were self-reported to have contributed to a change in policy and/or practice by the course participants: 38 to a change in government policy or practice (26 at the national level, six at the subnational level and six at the local/hospital level); four to a change in organisational policy or practice; and one study fostered global policy development. Conclusion: Nearly two-thirds of SORT IT course papers contributed to a change in policy and/or practice as reported by the participants. Identifying the actual linkage of research to policy/practice change requires more robust methodology, in-depth assessment and independent validation of the reported change with all concerned stakeholders.

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Operational research in low-income countries: what, why, and how?

Cited by 166 publications

References 27 publications

The HIV/AIDS epidemic in sub‐Saharan Africa: thinking ahead on programmatic tasks and related operational research

The HIV/AIDS epidemic in sub‐Saharan Africa: thinking ahead on programmatic tasks and related operational research

Closing the barrier between disease and health outcomes in Africa through research and capacity development

Does the Structured Operational Research and Training Initiative (SORT IT) continue to influence health policy and/or practice?

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