iTRAIN During iCARE Nigeria: Virtual Implementation Research Training Course Nested Within an Ongoing Trial

Kehinde M Kuti ^1,2, Aima A Ahonkhai ^3,4, Bibilola Oladeji ⁵

¹Staff Medical Services Department, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.
²College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Infectious Disease Institute, Ibadan, Nigeria.
³Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Vanderbilt Institute of Global Health, Nashville, TN USA.
⁴Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA USA.
⁵Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
⁶Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL USA.
⁷International Research Center of Excellence, Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria.
⁸College of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Center for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Ibadan, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
⁹Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.
¹⁰Global Pediatrics Program and Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, USA.
¹¹Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL USA.
¹²Ryan Family Center for Global Primary Care, Robert J Havey Institute for Global Health and Department Medical Social Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL USA.

⁰Staff Medical Services Department, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.

Global Implementation Research and Applications +

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May 1, 2025

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

A virtual training program (iTRAIN) successfully enhanced implementation research knowledge and capacity for HIV clinicians and program staff in Nigeria. The program facilitated the development of relevant research proposals, with some already implemented, serving as a model for future capacity-building initiatives.

Area Of Science

Public Health
Implementation Science
Medical Education

Background

Limited implementation research (IR) training opportunities exist for HIV clinicians and program implementers in Nigeria.
A virtual training program, iTRAIN, was developed to address this gap for the iCARE Nigeria study.
The program targeted clinicians and staff involved in HIV program implementation.

Purpose Of The Study

To develop and evaluate a virtual implementation research training program (iTRAIN) for Nigerian HIV professionals.
To enhance participants' knowledge and skills in implementation research.
To foster the development of research proposals relevant to the iCARE Nigeria study.

Main Methods

A nine-session online course covering core IR principles, delivered via asynchronous lectures and synchronous sessions.
Facilitator-led mentoring provided to six study site teams for developing IR proposals.
Pre- and post-training surveys using the Kirkpatrick Framework and explanatory mixed methods analysis were employed for evaluation.

Main Results

42 participants enrolled, with 50% having no prior IR experience; 95% completion rate.
79% rated the course excellent, and 79% felt their IR knowledge goals were met.
71% reported significant knowledge increase, and 97% intended to use their new skills; all sites developed concept notes, with four implemented.

Conclusions

The iTRAIN program was a successful, embedded virtual training initiative that improved participant knowledge and capacity in implementation research.
The developed training model can serve as a blueprint for study-embedded IR capacity-building in Nigeria and similar resource-limited settings.

Keywords:

Adolescent HIV Capacity building Implementation research Nigeria Training