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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
medicine
Evaluating a streamlined clinical tool and educational outreach intervention for health care workers in Malawi: The PALM PLUS case study
BMC International Health and Human Rights, Volume 11, No. SUPPL. 2, Article S11, Year 2011
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Description
Background: Nearly 3 million people in resource-poor countries receive antiretrovirals for the treatment of HIV/AIDS, yet millions more require treatment. Key barriers to treatment scale up are shortages of trained health care workers, and challenges integrating HIV/AIDS care with primary care. The research. PALM PLUS (Practical Approach to Lung Health and HIV/AIDS in Malawi) is an intervention designed to simplify and integrate existing Malawian national guidelines into a single, simple, user-friendly guideline for mid-level health care workers. Training utilizes a peer-to-peer educational outreach approach. Research is being undertaken to evaluate this intervention to generate evidence that will guide future decision-making for consideration of roll out in Malawi. The research consists of a cluster randomized trial in 30 public health centres in Zomba District that measures the effect of the intervention on staff satisfaction and retention, quality of patient care, and costs through quantitative, qualitative and health economics methods. Results and outcomes. In the first phase of qualitative inquiry respondents from intervention sites demonstrated in-depth knowledge of PALM PLUS compared to those from control sites. Participants in intervention sites felt that the PALM PLUS tool empowered them to provide better health services to patients. Interim staff retention data shows that there were, on average, 3 to 4 staff departing from the control and intervention sites per month. Additional qualitative, quantitative and economic analyses are planned. The partnership. Dignitas International and the Knowledge Translation Unit at the University of Cape Town Lung Institute have led the adaptation and development of the PALM PLUS intervention, using experience gained through the implementation of the South African precursor, PALSA PLUS. The Malawian partners, REACH Trust and the Research Unit at the Ministry of Health, have led the qualitative and economic evaluations. Dignitas and Ministry of Health have facilitated interaction with implementers and policy-makers. Challenges and successes. This initiative is an example of South-South knowledge translation between South Africa and Malawi, mediated by a Canadian academic-NGO hybrid. Our success in developing and rolling out PALM PLUS in Malawi suggests that it is possible to adapt and implement this intervention for use in other resource-limited settings. © 2011 Sodhi et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
Authors & Co-Authors
Sodhi, Sumeet K.
Canada, Toronto
Dignitas International
Canada, Toronto
University of Toronto
Canada, Toronto
Toronto Western Hospital University of Toronto
Banda, Hastings Thomas
Malawi, Lilongwe
Research for Equity and Community Health Trust
Kathyola, Damson D.
Malawi, Lilongwe
Ministry of Health Malawai
Burciul, Barry
Canada, Toronto
Dignitas International
Thompson, Sandy
Canada, Toronto
Dignitas International
Joshua, Martias Alice
Malawi, Lilongwe
Ministry of Health Malawai
Malawi, Zomba
Zomba Central Hospital
Bateman, E. D.
South Africa, Cape Town
University of Cape Town Lung Institute
Fairall, Lara R.
South Africa, Cape Town
University of Cape Town Lung Institute
Martiniuk, Alexandra Lynda Conboy
Canada, Toronto
University of Toronto
Australia, Sydney
The University of Sydney
Canada, Toronto
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Cornick, Ruth Vania
South Africa, Cape Town
University of Cape Town Lung Institute
Faris, Gill M.
South Africa, Cape Town
University of Cape Town Lung Institute
Draper, Beverly
South Africa, Cape Town
University of Cape Town Lung Institute
Mondiwa, Martha
Malawi, Lilongwe
Nurses and Midwives Council of Malawi
Katengeza, Egnat
Canada, Toronto
Dignitas International
Sanudi, Lifah
Malawi, Lilongwe
Research for Equity and Community Health Trust
Zwarenstein, Merrick F.
Canada, Toronto
Dignitas International
Canada, Toronto
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Sweden, Stockholm
Karolinska Institutet
Schull, Michael John
Canada, Toronto
Dignitas International
Canada, Toronto
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Canada, Toronto
University of Toronto
Statistics
Citations: 25
Authors: 17
Affiliations: 11
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1186/1472-698X-11-S2-S11
e-ISSN:
1472698X
Research Areas
Health System And Policy
Infectious Diseases
Study Design
Randomised Control Trial
Case Study
Study Approach
Qualitative
Quantitative
Study Locations
Malawi
South Africa