Investing in Operational Research Capacity Building for Front-Line Health Workers Strengthens Countries' Resilience to Tackling the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Garry Aslanyan,Mohammed Khogali,Anthony D Harries,Pruthu Thekkur,John C Reeder,Selma Dar Berger,Abraham Aseffa,Rony Zachariah,Francis Moses,Ajay M V Kumar,Karapet Davtyan,Srinath Satyanarayana

doi:10.3390/tropicalmed5030118

Abstract

(1) Introduction. The Structured Operational Research and Training IniTiative (SORT IT) supports countries to build operational research capacity for improving public health. We assessed whether health workers trained through SORT IT were (1) contributing to the COVID-19 pandemic response and if so, (2) map where and how they were applying their SORT IT skills. (2) Methods. An online questionnaire survey of SORT IT alumni trained between 2009 and 2019. (3) Results. Of 895 SORT IT alumni from 93 countries, 652 (73%) responded to the survey and 417 were contributing to the COVID-19 response in 72 countries. Of those contributing, 307 (74%) were applying their SORT IT skills to tackle the pandemic in 60 countries and six continents including Africa, Asia, Europe, South Pacific and North/South America. Skills were applied to all the pillars of the emergency response with the highest proportions of alumni applying their skills in data generation/analysis/reporting (56%), situation analysis (55%) and surveillance (41%). Skills were also being used to mitigate the health system effects of COVID-19 on other diseases (27%) and in conducting research (26%). (4) Conclusion. Investing in people and in research training ahead of public health emergencies generates downstream dividends by strengthening health system resilience for tackling pandemics. It also strengthens human resources for health and the integration of research within health systems.

Highlights

In line with a WHO call that “all nations should be producers and consumers of research and research capacity be strengthened close to the supply of and demand for health services” [4], Structured Operational Research and Training IniTiative (SORT IT) has trained participants from 93 countries [5]
The questionnaire was pre-tested and included information on demographics, whether the person was currently involved with the COVID-19 response and if so, whether he/she was applying the skills gained from the SORT IT training to the pandemic response
417 from 72 countries were actively involved in the COVID-19 response and 307 (74%) from 60 countries were applying their skills acquired from SORT IT courses to tackle the pandemic (Figure 2)

Summary

Introduction

In line with a WHO call that “all nations should be producers and consumers of research and research capacity be strengthened close to the supply of and demand for health services” [4], SORT IT has trained participants from 93 countries [5]. With 70% of research studies influencing policy and practice, SORT IT examines what works or does not work in real-world settings and introduces solutions to improve health care [6]. In the light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the link between this training programme and its role in strengthening health system resilience to respond to pandemics merits examination. We assessed (1) whether SORT IT alumni are contributing to the COVID-19 pandemic response and if so, (2) map where and how they are applying their SORT IT skills

Methods

Results

Conclusion