Designing an operational research TB training program in Zambia

TL;DR

A training program in Zambia taught healthcare workers to conduct operational research, improving TB care through local evidence and sustainable practices.

Contribution

A novel operational research training program for healthcare workers in Zambia, leading to tangible improvements in TB care and research dissemination.

Findings

26 out of 36 participants completed the training, resulting in nine operational research studies.

Key achievements included reduced TB mortality and improved pediatric notifications and sputum courier systems.

Three studies were published in peer-reviewed journals, and two were replicated nationally.

Abstract

The USAID-funded Eradicate TB Project (ETB) partnered with the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Program (NTLP) to establish an operational research (OR) training program in order to generate local evidence to enhance TB care in Zambia.

Between 2017 and 2021, healthcare workers (HCWs) from district teams underwent two 10-day intensive training sessions. The program evolved to include a competitive application process and an additional primer workshop on developing feasible research questions.

Of the 36 enrollees in the OR training program, 26 (72.2%) completed it, leading to nine OR studies that informed interventions for TB care improvement. Notable achievements include reduced TB mortality, increased pediatric notifications, and enhanced sputum courier systems, with all studies disseminated at national and international conferences, four submitted to peer-reviewed journals, of which three were published. Two studies were replicated by the NTLP at provincial and national levels.

Integrating OR training into TB initiatives is feasible and beneficial. The program's phased execution and adaptive strategies provide valuable insights for similar settings, although challenges in sustainability of mentorship and funding persist. This success underscores the importance of continuous OR capacity strengthening among HCWs in Zambia.