Real-Time Operational Research: Case Studies from the Field of Tuberculosis and Lessons Learnt
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Date
2021
Authors
Harries, Anthony D.
Thekkur, Pruthu
Mbithi, Irene
Chakaya, Jeremiah Muhwa
Tweya, Hannock
Takarinda, Kudakwashe C.
Kumar, Ajay M. V.
Satyanarayana, Srinath
Berger, Selma Dar
Rusen, I. D.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
MDPI
Abstract
Real-time operational research can be defined as research on strategies or interventions to
assess if they are feasible, working as planned, scalable and effective. The research involves primary
data collection, periodic analysis during the conduct of the study and dissemination of the findings
to policy makers for timely action. This paper aims to illustrate the use of real-time operational
research and discuss how to make it happen. Four case studies are presented from the field of
tuberculosis. These include (i) mis-registration of recurrent tuberculosis in Malawi; (ii) HIV testing
and adjunctive cotrimoxazole to reduce mortality in TB patients in Malawi; (iii) screening TB patients
for diabetes mellitus in India; and (iv) mitigating the impact of COVID-19 on TB case detection in
capital cities in Kenya, Malawi and Zimbabwe. The important ingredients of real-time operational
research are sound ethics; relevant research; adherence to international standards of conducting and
reporting on research; consideration of comparison groups; timely data collection; dissemination to
key stakeholders; capacity building; and funding. Operational research can improve the delivery of
established health interventions and ensure the deployment of new interventions as they become
available, irrespective of diseases. This is particularly important when public health emergencies,
including pandemics, threaten health services
Description
Article
Keywords
Operational research, Real-time operational research, Tuberculosis, COVID-19, Ethics, Research capacity building, Malawi, Kenya, Zimbabwe, India