Remote Interviewer Training for COVID-19 Data Collection: Challenges and Lessons Learned From 3 Countries in Sub-Saharan Africa

Turke, Shani; Nehrling, Sarah; Adebayo, Samuel Olanipekun; Akilimali, Pierre; Idiodi, Ivan; Mwangi, Anthony; Larson, Elizabeth; Anglewicz, Philip

doi:10.9745/ghsp-d-20-00468

Cited by 5 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Some suggested that one way of facilitating interdisciplinarity might be to focus on developing understanding of methods used across disciplines, as they are often what unify or separate scientists. 54 Given the complexity of the problems posed by situations such as health emergencies, the methods themselves also need to continuously develop to fit the context and resources. 54 Second, this study has highlighted a need to better clarify the role of scientific advisors towards policy makers, media and the broad public.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“… 54 Given the complexity of the problems posed by situations such as health emergencies, the methods themselves also need to continuously develop to fit the context and resources. 54 Second, this study has highlighted a need to better clarify the role of scientific advisors towards policy makers, media and the broad public. Clear definitions of advisory and decision-making roles should be provided, as well as a clear roadmap of responsibilities, tasks and procedures, to protect the boundaries of the expert role and to facilitate an effective and trustworthy science advisory process.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Following the science? Views from scientists on government advisory boards during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative interview study in five European countries

et al. 2021

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IntroductionIn order to tackle the pandemic, governments have established various types of advisory boards to provide evidence and recommendations to policy makers. Scientists working on these boards have faced many challenges, including working under significant time constraints to produce ‘evidence’ as quickly as possible. However, their voices are still largely missing in the discussion. This study explores the views and experiences of scientists working on government advisory boards during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the aim to learn lessons for future pandemic management and preparedness.MethodsWe conducted online video or telephone semi-structured interviews between December 2020 and April 2021 with 21 scientists with an official government advisory role during the COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium, the Netherlands, UK, Sweden and Germany. The interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed and analysed using a combination of inductive and deductive thematic analysis techniques.ResultsScientists viewed the initial focus on biomedically oriented work during the pandemic as somewhat one-dimensional, but also highlighted difficulties of working in an interdisciplinary way. They found it difficult at times to ensure that the evidence is understood and taken on board by governments. They found themselves taking on new roles, the boundaries of which were not clearly defined. Consequently, they were often perceived and treated as a public figure.ConclusionScientists working on advisory boards in European countries faced similar challenges, highlighting key lessons to be learnt. Future pandemic preparedness efforts should focus on building interdisciplinary collaboration through development of scientists’ skills and appropriate infrastructure; ensuring transparency in how boards operate; defining and protecting the boundaries of the scientific advisor role; and supporting scientists to inform the public in the fight against disinformation, while dealing with potential hostile reactions.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Following the science? Views from scientists on government advisory boards during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative interview study in five European countries

et al. 2021

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“…Random samples of mobile subscribers can be quickly generated, by using the country's numbering scheme and/or forming partnerships with mobile providers or global sampling platforms. Interviewers can often be trained remotely [45] and work from their own homes [22,31]. By using questionnaires similar to those used in prior household surveys and censuses, the data generated by mobile phone surveys might be compared with previous mortality estimates [23,25].…”

Section: Plos Global Public Healthmentioning

confidence: 99%

Collecting mortality data via mobile phone surveys: A non-inferiority randomized trial in Malawi

Chasukwa

Choko

Muthema³

et al. 2022

PLOS Glob Public Health

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Despite the urgent need for timely mortality data in low-income and lower-middle-income countries, mobile phone surveys rarely include questions about recent deaths. Such questions might a) be too sensitive, b) take too long to ask and/or c) generate unreliable data. We assessed the feasibility of mortality data collection using mobile phone surveys in Malawi. We conducted a non-inferiority trial among a random sample of mobile phone users. Participants were allocated to an interview about their recent economic activity or recent deaths in their family. In the group that was asked mortality-related questions, half of the respondents completed an abridged questionnaire, focused on information necessary to calculate recent mortality rates, whereas the other half completed an extended questionnaire that also included questions about symptoms and healthcare. The primary trial outcome was the cooperation rate, i.e., the number of completed interviews divided by the number of mobile subscribers invited to participate. Secondary outcomes included self-reports of negative feelings and stated intentions to participate in future interviews. We called more than 7,000 unique numbers and reached 3,054 mobile subscribers. In total, 1,683 mobile users were invited to participate. The difference in cooperation rates between those asked to complete a mortality-related interview and those asked to answer questions about economic activity was 0.9 percentage points (95% CI = -2.3, 4.1), which satisfied the non-inferiority criterion. The mortality questionnaire was non-inferior to the economic questionnaire on all secondary outcomes. Collecting mortality data required 2 to 4 additional minutes per reported death, depending on the inclusion of questions about symptoms and healthcare. More than half of recent deaths elicited during mobile phone interviews had not been registered with the National Registration Bureau. Including mortality-related questions in mobile phone surveys is feasible. It might help strengthen the surveillance of mortality in countries with deficient civil registration systems. Registration: AEA RCT Registry, #0008065 (14 September 2021).

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“…Pesquisadores da República Democrática do Congo, Quênia e Nigéria implementaram um sistema de treinamento remoto para os entrevistadores da pesquisa "Conhecimentos, práticas e impactos da COVID-19 em mulheres em idade reprodutiva". As aprendizagens foram promovidas por meio de videoaulas, atividades em pequenos grupos, avaliações dos conteúdos e monitoramento ativo individual, realizado por ligações telefônicas entre facilitadores e entrevistadores (Turke et al, 2021).…”

Section: Lições Aprendidasunclassified

Estratégias formativas para a pesquisa em um estudo multicêntrico

Schweickardt

Teixeira

Azevedo

et al. 2022

RSD

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A pandemia da COVID-19 promoveu adaptações em diversas áreas no Brasil e no mundo. Baseada na novidade do vírus, adequações comportamentais foram requeridas e informações sobre a prevenção/gravidade da doença foram sugeridos e divulgados por distintas fontes. Partindo deste fenômeno, o Mestrado Profissional em Saúde da Família (PROFSAÚDE) elaborou o projeto de pesquisa “Prevenção e controle da COVID-19: estudo multicêntrico sobre a percepção e práticas no cotidiano das orientações médico-científicas pela população dos territórios de abrangência da Atenção Primária à Saúde”. Para dar suporte à pesquisa foram elaboradas quatro estratégias formativas (duas relacionadas a coletas e análises quantitativas e duas ligadas análises qualitativas) pela coordenação nacional, com propósito de apoiar e dar suporte aos pesquisadores-discentes do PROFSAÚDE na aprendizagem e na pesquisa científica. Portanto, o objetivo deste texto é descrever as estratégias de ensino-aprendizagem desenvolvidas na rede de formação profissional e de pesquisa multicêntrica. Foi adotada a metodologia ativa, seguindo a concepção pedagógica do programa, centrada na aprendizagem do sujeito e, portanto, todas as ofertas tiveram como método, a sala de aula invertida. Mediante um processo integrado e coletivo, as estratégias formativas apoiaram o direcionamento e padronização das etapas do estudo nacionalmente, promoveram o aprofundamento do conteúdo em métodos mistos e a redução de vieses na coleta dos dados. Os participantes avaliaram positivamente os cursos, sinalizando o alcance dos objetivos de aprendizagem. A experiência mostrou o caráter agregador produzido pela pesquisa e a potencialidade para a qualificação destes profissionais de saúde que atuam no Sistema Único de Saúde.

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Remote Interviewer Training for COVID-19 Data Collection: Challenges and Lessons Learned From 3 Countries in Sub-Saharan Africa

Cited by 5 publications

References 17 publications

Following the science? Views from scientists on government advisory boards during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative interview study in five European countries

Following the science? Views from scientists on government advisory boards during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative interview study in five European countries

Collecting mortality data via mobile phone surveys: A non-inferiority randomized trial in Malawi

Estratégias formativas para a pesquisa em um estudo multicêntrico

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