Evidence map›Paper›PMID 29745782›Full record

ArticleGlobal health action2018

Blended SORT-IT for operational research capacity building: the model, its successes and challenges.

Tom Decroo, Rafael Van den Bergh, Ajay M V Kumar, Rony Zachariah, Erin Schillberg, Philip Owiti, Wilma van den Boogaard, Guido Benedetti, Safieh Shah, Engy Ali and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Global health action, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Capacity building in operational research on obstetric fistula: Experience in the Democratic Republic of Congo, 2017-2021.International journal of gynaecology and obstetrics: the official organ of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics · 2023
    Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Tom Decrooa Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), Medical Department , Operational Centre Brussels, MSF Luxembourg , Luxembourg.ORCID 0000-0002-1205-1484
Rafael Van den Bergha Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), Medical Department , Operational Centre Brussels, MSF Luxembourg , Luxembourg.ORCID 0000-0001-6277-8713
Ajay M V Kumarc International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union), South-East Asia Office , New Delhi , India.
Rony Zachariahd Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR) , World Health Organization , Geneva , Switzerland.
Erin Schillberga Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), Medical Department , Operational Centre Brussels, MSF Luxembourg , Luxembourg.
Philip Owitie Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare (AMPATH) , Eldoret , Kenya.
Wilma van den Boogaarda Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), Medical Department , Operational Centre Brussels, MSF Luxembourg , Luxembourg.
Guido Benedettia Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), Medical Department , Operational Centre Brussels, MSF Luxembourg , Luxembourg.
Safieh Shaha Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), Medical Department , Operational Centre Brussels, MSF Luxembourg , Luxembourg.ORCID 0000-0001-5358-9240
Engy Alia Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), Medical Department , Operational Centre Brussels, MSF Luxembourg , Luxembourg.
Anthony D Harriesf International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease , Paris , France.
Anthony J Reida Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), Medical Department , Operational Centre Brussels, MSF Luxembourg , Luxembourg.

Funding

World Health Organization 001
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The Structured Operational Research Training Initiative (SORT-IT) has been shown to be very effective in strengthening capacity for conducting operational research, publishing in scientific journals and fostering policy and practice change. The 'classic' model includes three face-to-face modules during which, respectively, a study protocol, a data analysis plan, and a manuscript are elaborated. Meanwhile, the lectures of the SORT-IT are available online as YouTube videos. Given the availability of this online material and the experiences with online mentorship of the faculty, we piloted a first blended distance/residential SORT-IT. To inform future implementers of our experience with blended operational research courses, we summarize the model, successes, and challenges of this approach in this perspective paper. The blended SORT-IT consisted of an online phase, covering modules 1 and 2, followed by a face-to-face writing module 3. Four out of six participants successfully completed the course, and submitted a manuscript to a peer-reviewed journal within four weeks of completing module 3. A blended approach may make the SORT-IT course more accessible to future participants and may favour the adoption of the course by other institutions, such as national Ministries of Health.

Indexed as

Operations ResearchCapacity BuildingHumansMentorsModels, Organizationalblended learningcapacity buildingeducationmentorshipOperational researchSORT-ITtraining

Identifiers

PMID29745782
PMCPMC5954484

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.