Adapting operational research training to the Rwandan context: the Intermediate Operational Research Training...

Area of Science:

• Global Health
• Health Services Research
• Capacity Building

Background:

• Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) need skilled researchers to advance national health agendas.
• Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are increasingly involved in research capacity building in LMICs.
• Partners In Health implemented an Intermediate Operational Research Training (IORT) course in Rwanda to develop local research talent.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the implementation of the IORT course.
• To share experiences for organizations developing similar training programs.
• To foster research leadership among LMIC nationals.

Main Methods:

• A deliverable-driven training model with a "learning-by-doing" approach.
• Intensive hands-on mentorship from protocol development to publication.
• Short, frequent training sessions over eight months, with trainees working in pairs on research projects.

Main Results:

• Nine out of ten trainees completed the course.
• Five research projects were published in peer-reviewed journals.
• Key challenges included ethical review delays, high mentorship workload, and publication costs.

Conclusions:

• The IORT course effectively equipped district-based staff with research skills relevant to health service delivery.
• NGOs can build on successful models, adapting them to local challenges.
• Sustained mentorship is crucial for effective research capacity building in LMICs.