SORT IT operational research and training

SORT IT operational research and training

Overview

Many public health programmes in low- and middle-income countries “are data rich but information poor” implying that much data is generated at a country level but the full potential to use these data to inform improvements in public health is rarely achieved.

The Structured Operational Research and Training IniTiative (SORT IT) seeks to make countries “data-rich, information-rich and action-rich” thereby contributing to improving health care delivery and outcomes. SORT IT is a global partnership coordinated by TDR and implemented with partners. SORT IT supports countries and institutions to: conduct operational research around their own priorities; build sustainable operational research capacity; and make evidence-informed decisions for improving programme performance. Participants conduct operational research on various topics such as multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, malaria, HIV/AIDS, neglected tropical diseases, maternal and child health, outbreaks and emergencies, antimicrobial resistance and noncommunicable diseases.

Key facts

Since 2009, the SORT IT initiative has trained 943 participants from 93 countries.

 

SORT IT outputs and coverage

Since 2009, the SORT IT initiative has enrolled 943 participants from 93 countries. Close to 90% complete all milestones and publish in a peer-reviewed scientific journal with 67% of studies self-reporting to have contributed to a change on policy and/or practice. Publications included 53 journals (impact factor 0.4-19), were done in five languages with individuals from LMICs constituting 94% of first authors, 93% of corresponding authors and 54% of last authors. 43% of first authors were women.

SORT IT coverage map

 

SORT IT approach

SORT IT targets implementers such as doctors, nurses, paramedical officers, data analysts, and programme officers, often with little or no prior research experience. Participants undergo training and conduct their research simultaneously. Each participant uses a relevant research project to learn the practical skills of how to write a study protocol, how to ensure quality-assured data capture and analysis, how to publish in a peer-reviewed journal and how to use the study findings to foster evidence-informed decision-making in public health. Participants must achieve milestones to move from one stage to the next and SORT IT courses are expected to achieve targets. Participants are supported with hands-on mentorship provided by experienced mentors.

Classic course milestones for a SORT IT course

  • Milestone 1: Submission of protocol and the ethical review form within three weeks of completing module 1
  • Milestone 2: Submission of the data documentation sheets within two weeks of completing module 2
  • Milestone 3: Submission of proof of study completion and data collection about six weeks before module 3
  • Milestone 4: Submission of a paper to a peer-review journal within four weeks of end of module 3


Target scores for a SORT IT course

IndicatorTarget
Aggregate participant satisfaction score for each module80%
Participants complete all course milestones80%
Papers published within 18 months of submission80%
Papers assessed for effects of policy and practice within 18 months of submission80%

 

SORT IT recognition

SORT IT is unique in being adaptable, output-oriented, striving for gender balance and having built-in metrics for accountability. It has been recognized by a DFID independent evaluation and by ESSENCE good practice guidelines. Several WHO documents refer to SORT IT including the World Health Report 2013, the Global action framework for TB research and the WHO European Action plan to strengthen the use of evidence for policy-making. Several NGOS and academic institutions have adopted the SORT IT approach.

 

SORT IT partners

The SORT IT partnership includes disease control programmes, institutions and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in low- and middle-income countries that have conducted or supported SORT IT courses. SORT IT partners includes various NGOs such as the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Kirby Institute (UNSW Sydney), Médecins Sans Frontierès, Partners in Health, Rwanda, Vital Strategies USA, Alliance for Public Health, Ukraine, Centre national de formation et de recherche en santé rurale de Maferinyah, Guinee, TB-RPC Research and Prevention Center, Armenia, networks for knowledge translation including the Evidence-informed Policy Network (EVIPNet), foundations including the Damien Foundation, the KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation, Narotam Sekhsaria Foundation, Mumbai, India, academic institutions including The Institute of Tropical Medicine (Belgium), Radboud University Nijmegen, The University of Bergen, Norway, The University of Nairobi, Kenya, Makerere University, Uganda, University of Gondar, Ethiopia, The University of Antioquia, Colombia, University of Toronto, Canada, Indian Council of Medical Research, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, India, Department of Medical Research, Myanmar and the Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria. TDR operates SORT IT in partnership with WHO regional and country offices.

Interested in establishing or supporting SORT IT?

General information, contact Dr Rony Zachariah: [email protected]


SORT IT for participants

You can expect to complete your research in about a year, develop a manuscript ready for submission to a peer-reviewed journal. SORT IT has a web-based alumni network that links up all SORT IT participants. Furthermore, alumni who are embedded within disease control programmes and/or NGOs also have an opportunity to become operational research fellows and can pursue a PhD using their operational research work.

Participant eligibility criteria

Participant selection is guided by eligibility criteria which include the following:

  • Must be actively involved in a disease control programme at the national, state, NGO, or health institution level.
  • Outline a half-page of text that a) describes a relevant problem that the candidate has identified within a given programme and b) formulates a research question that is proposed to be developed into an operational research project. Please note that research questions using routine programme data are preferred.
  • Provide a written statement from the programme manager or relevant authority confirming the relevance of the research question and granting the applicant permission to have time and opportunity to carry out and publish his/her operational research.
  • Must provide written commitment to attend all modules of SORT IT, return to their programme or institution after the course and implement course knowledge at programme level for a minimum of 18 months.
  • Provide a written statement from a mentor (if available) or referee describing how the mentor knows the candidate and if he/she will be suitable for the course.
  • If applicable, the ability to mobilize the funding required to carry out the operational research.
  • Master of Public Health (MPH) or an equivalent, or a strong recommendation.
  • Fluent in written and spoken English and/or the language of the course.
  • Computer literate.
        

SORT IT for interested organizations

SORT IT is expanding in geographic coverage, embracing new areas in public health, introducing more complex study designs and piloting innovative ways of delivery. Partnerships and national leadership are encouraged. You can help support this kind of customized and focused training in your country or institution by sponsoring a workshop or supporting the development of more facilitators.

Criteria for designation as a SORT IT course

In order to maintain the quality and outputs of SORT IT courses, there are specific criteria to be fulfilled in order to be designated a SORT IT course. These criteria include:

  • The proposed course has modules that are based upon, or adapted from SORT IT.
  • Milestones and targets are systematically recorded as part of the implementation process.
  • The 80–80–80–80 target scores of SORT IT are monitored and reported upon. These targets have been introduced to ensure adherence to a rigorous “process” of quality control over a journey from defining a research question to its eventual influence on evidence-informed decision-making.
  • On the administrative side, the course coordinator of a given course is required to update the TDR focal point on course progress. The course details that need to be sent include participant details and their research titles; module evaluation scores; course status in relation to the SORT IT 80–80–80–80 targets and archives of study protocols, manuscripts and publications.
  • If interested institutions feel they can fulfil the above, then please contact the reference person at WHO/TDR for formal registration (Dr Rony Zachariah).

 

Please note that:

  • SORT IT certification is based on reporting on all course milestones, committing to the rigorous SORT IT processes and endeavouring to achieve them. This is a prerequisite for endorsement by TDR.
  • When the above conditions are not fulfilled in a given course, a phase of reappraisal may be considered after which designation as a SORT IT course may no longer apply.
  • Standard operating procedures exist to facilitate the planning and organization of SORT IT courses and will be sent to the interested institution after formal registration.