Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32711582›Full record

ArticleMalaria journal2020

Peer supervision experiences of drug sellers in a rural district in East-Central Uganda: a qualitative study.

Arthur Bagonza, Henry Wamani, Stefan Peterson, Andreas Mårtensson, Milton Mutto, David Musoke, Freddy Eric Kitutu, David Mukanga, Linda Gibson, Phyllis Awor

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Malaria journal, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
0.7field-weighted citation impact, top 28% of its field
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

3 citing papers in PubMed, 4 citations in OpenAlex.

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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

10 authors at 4 institutions in 4 countries.

Arthur BagonzaDepartment of Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda. abagonza@musph.ac.ug.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2167-7294
Henry WamaniDepartment of Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda.
Stefan PetersonDepartment of Health Policy Planning and Management, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda.
Andreas MårtenssonInternational Maternal and Child Health Unit, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
Milton MuttoDepartment of Disease Control and Environmental Health, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda.
David MusokeDepartment of Disease Control and Environmental Health, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda.
Freddy Eric KitutuDepartment of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda.
David MukangaBill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Washington, USA.
Linda GibsonSchool of Social Sciences, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK.
Phyllis AworDepartment of Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda.
Makerere University · UGUppsala University · SEGates Foundation · USNottingham Trent University · GB

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSupport supervision improves performance outcomes among health workers. However, the national professional guidelines for new licenses and renewal for Class C drug shops in Uganda prescribe self-supervision of licensed private drug sellers. Without support supervision, inappropriate treatment of malaria, pneumonia and diarrhoea among children under 5 years of age continues unabated. This study assessed experiences of drug sellers and peer supervisors at the end of a peer supervision intervention in Luuka District in East Central Uganda.

methodsEight in-depth interviews (IDIs) were held with peer supervisors while five focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted among registered drug sellers at the end of the peer supervision intervention. The study assessed experiences and challenges of peer supervisors and drug sellers regarding peer supervision. Transcripts were imported into Atlas.ti 7 qualitative data management software where they were analysed using thematic content analysis.

resultsInitially, peer supervisors were disliked and regarded by drug sellers as another extension of drug inspectors. However, with time a good relationship was established between drug sellers and peer supervisors leading to regular, predictable and supportive peer supervision. This increased confidence of drug sellers in using respiratory timers and rapid diagnostic tests in diagnosing pneumonia symptoms and uncomplicated malaria, respectively, among children under 5 years. There was also an improvement in completing the sick child register which was used for self-assessment by drug sellers. The drug shop association was mentioned as a place where peer supervision should be anchored since it was a one-stop centre for sharing experiences and continuous professional development. Drug sellers proposed including community health workers in monthly drug shop association meetings so that they may also gain from the associated benefits. Untimely completion of the sick child registers by drug sellers and inadequate financial resources were the main peer supervision challenges mentioned.

conclusionDrug sellers benefitted from peer supervision by developing a good relationship with peer supervisors. This relationship guaranteed reliable and predictable supervision ultimately leading to improved treatment practices. There is need to explore the minimum resources needed for peer supervision of drug sellers to further inform practice and policy.

Indexed as

AntimalarialsCommunity Health WorkersDiagnostic Tests, RoutineFocus GroupsHumansPharmaceutical PreparationsPharmaciesRural PopulationUgandaAntimalarialsPharmaceutical PreparationsDiarrhoeaDrug sellersDrug shopsMalariaPeer supervisionPneumoniaUganda

Identifiers

PMID32711582
PMCPMC7382843
OpenAlexW3044478313

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.