Browsing by Author "Shumba, Florence"

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    Front-line research staff experiences when implementing hospital and community-based studies in Blantyre during the Covid-19 epidermic (EXPLORA), version 1.0
    (Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, 2022-08-05) Shumba, Florence
    Type of study: A cross-sectional qualitative study. Problem statement: Front line research staff play a major role of ensuring that the collected data is credible and answering the research question. The coming of COVID -19 has affected study activities because of the measures imposed to prevent the spread of the virus. Experiences of front-line research staff on implementation of hospital and community-based studies in Malawi is not heard due to lack of information on the published data on the studies conducted in this area. Conducting a qualitative study aimed at exploring their work experience during the COVID - 19 pandemic will shed more light on the issues affecting their work. Most studies are focused on participant and stakeholders’ involvement in research projects but the views of the front - line research staff who play a major role in study activities are not heard(1). Main objective To assess the experiences of front-line research staff on study implementation during COVID-19 pandemic in KUHeS affiliates in Blantyre and explore strategies to be adopted in future pandemics. Specific objectives • To experiences of front-line research staff when recruiting and conducting follow-up of study participants during COVID -19 pandemic. • To explore recruitment and follow-up experiences of front-line research staff involved in various studies before and during the COVID -19 pandemic. • To compare recruitment and follow-up challenges experienced in clinic-based studies with those of community-based studies • To identify challenges in relation to the application of international research ethical standards into processes of recruiting and following up research participants i.e., CIOMS. Methodology The study will combine a cross-sectional and retrospective qualitative design to collect insights into the experiences of the researchers in the ongoing and completed studies. The use of a combined qualitative design will allow us to explore implementational challenges in studies that are currently active and those that have already completed data collection to determine and compare challenges during both peak and low as well as early and current Covid-19 period. Study participants will be purposively selected from both community and hospital-based studies to ensure representation of studies from each of the three KUHES affiliated research institutions. The study will be conducted at the premises of Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Programme, John Hopkins Project, and Blantyre Malaria Project. Expected findings and dissemination Information from a study conducted in the Caribbean during this period revealed that measures imposed to reduce the spread of the disease in different countries reduced rapport between front-line research staff and participants as face-to-face communication strengthened their relationship. The study will bring insight into the current issues at hand. The study findings will be presented during dissemination conferences at KUHES and other conferences. COMREC will also need a copy of the findings and the study findings will also disseminate during Project Progress Report (PPR) at Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Programme.