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Journal Article
|Review

Building operational research capacity in the Pacific

Bissel K, Viney K, Brostom R, Gounder S, Khogali MA, Kishore K, Kool B, Kumar AMV, Manzi M, Marais BJ, Marks GB, Linh NN, Ram S, Reid SE, Roseveare C, Tayler-Smith K, Van der Bergh R, Harries AD
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Abstract
Operational research (OR) in public health aims to investigate strategies, interventions, tools or knowledge that can enhance the quality, coverage, effectiveness or performance of health systems. Attention has recently been drawn to the lack of OR capacity in public health programmes throughout the Pacific Islands, despite considerable investment in implementation. This lack of ongoing and critical reflection may prevent health programme staff from understanding why programme objectives are not being fully achieved, and hinder long-term gains in public health. The International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union) has been collaborating with Pacific agencies to conduct OR courses based on the training model developed by The Union and Médecins Sans Frontières Brussels-Luxembourg in 2009. The first of these commenced in 2011 in collaboration with the Fiji National University, the Fiji Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization and other partners. The Union and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community organised a second course for participants from other Pacific Island countries and territories in 2012, and an additional course for Fijian participants commenced in 2013. Twelve participants enrolled in each of the three courses. Of the two courses completed by end 2013, 18 of 24 participants completed their OR and submitted papers by the course deadline, and 17 papers have been published to date. This article describes the context, process and outputs of the Pacific courses, as well as innovations, adaptations and challenges.

Countries

none

Subject Area

operational research

Languages

English
DOI
10.5588/pha.13.0091
Published Date
21 Jun 2014
Journal
Public Health Action
Volume | Issue | Pages
Volume 4
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Building operational research capacity in the Pacific | Journal Article / Review | MSF Science Portal