Assessing the scalability of health system interventions in Africa: protocol for a Delphi study.

backgroundThere is widespread enthusiasm for scaling interventions to strengthen health systems. However, little is known about the scalability of such interventions in Africa. In this study, we seek to assess the scalability of interventions for improving the functionality of health systems in Africa, as a key to large-scale implementation strategy of interventions with potential for impact.

methodsThe study will deploy a multi-pronged approach, grounded in an integrated knowledge translation (iKT) approach. First, a multidisciplinary steering committee will be established, involving key female and male stakeholders in all stages of our study from its inception and as equal members of the research team for overseeing the project. Second, as part of the RAND/University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Appropriateness Method, evidence from a published systematic review will be used to develop the African Scalability Assessment Framework (AFROSAF), a series of multiple attributes for assessing the ability to scale a health system intervention in Africa. Third, the content of the AFROSAF will be validated using Delphi survey (within a deliberative dialogue) following the Lavis' framework for knowledge transfer and a conceptual framework developed by Boyko et al. a multi-stakeholder consensus exercise with experts from Africa will be convened. The Likert scaled scalability attributes developed will be rated and descriptive statistics and hierarchical cluster analysis will be used to synthesize the data. Finally, document analyses will be conducted to rate to which extent each intervention has data that meet criteria responding to the essential components of scalability using the AFROSAF. We will conduct an analysis to score and rank each intervention for scalability. DISCUSSION: This project proposes an approach aiming to catalyse the scale of interventions for effective functionality of health systems in Africa. The process will yield a scalability assessment tool for Africa and inventory scalable interventions. The findings will help African countries and policymakers understand the parameters to use and assess health system interventions for scaling.