Integrating capacity development during digital health research: a case study from global health

Adnan A Hyder,Hannah Selig,Joseph Ali,Elizeus Rutebemberwa,Khaleda Islam,George Pariyo

doi:10.1080/16549716.2018.1559268

Abstract

ABSTRACTBackground: The Bloomberg Data for Health Initiative Research and Development Arm at Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, has thus far collected NCD risk factor data from more than 13,000 citizens of three LMICs (Bangladesh, Tanzania and Uganda), and has actively worked to improve capacity with partners worldwide.Objective: This paper focuses on how a research project, can also act as a capacity building activity through its research into collecting non-communicable disease risk factor data using different mobile phone modalities.Methods: This paper evaluates the activities undertaken by the project using the ESSENCE Planning Monitoring and Evaluation Framework for Research Capacity Strengthening.Results: The project was able to successfully integrate meaningful capacity development activities across all partners. Training, networking, sharing resources, joint data collection, and analysis across individual, organizational and project levels were some of the strategies used. The ESSENCE framework allowed a good assessment strategy for this type of work.Conclusions: This paper highlights the value of making capacity development a high priority for digital health research activities, while also considering the need to monitor and evaluate those activities in order for them to be meaningful and sustainable. It also considers how to utilize the ESSENCE Framework to evaluate capacity development activities through research, and how best to adapt the Framework to different programs.

Highlights

The Bloomberg Data for Health Initiative Research and Development Arm at Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, has far collected non-communicable diseases (NCDs) risk factor data from more than 13,000 citizens of three Low- and Middle-income countries (LMICs) (Bangladesh, Tanzania and Uganda), and has actively worked to improve capacity with partners worldwide
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (JHSPH) partnered with Ifakara Health Institute (IHI) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH) in Kampala, Uganda and Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) in Dhaka, Bangladesh
These partner institutions collaborated on producing protocols to guide the research and coordinated all activities within country, including survey translation and recording, Institutional Review Board (IRB) submissions, and qualitative field work to contextualize the mobile phone surveys

Summary

Introduction

The Bloomberg Data for Health Initiative Research and Development Arm at Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, has far collected NCD risk factor data from more than 13,000 citizens of three LMICs (Bangladesh, Tanzania and Uganda), and has actively worked to improve capacity with partners worldwide. Low- and Middle-income countries (LMICs) have undergone rapid transitions in the past two decades, with significant shifts economically, demographically and epidemiologically. It is estimated that 68% of deaths globally are due to non-communicable disease, with more than 80% of these deaths occurring in low- and middleincome countries [1,2]. NCD deaths are only expected to rise in LMICs in the coming years [1,3,4]. Despite this fact, little NCD research is carried out in LMICs, relatively few resources are dedicated to NCDs globally, and interventions are far more likely to be tested in industrialized nations [5]. Increased mobile phone ownership and use provides a unique opportunity for health professionals to reach and potentially serve several health-related needs of even the most remote populations

Results

Discussion

Conclusion