Adapting the Structured Operational Research Training Initiative (SORT IT) for high-income countries

Abstract Background Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) introduced the Structured Operational Research Training Initiative (SORT IT) into China to build a special capacity and equip public health professionals with an effective tool to support developing countries in strengthening their operational research. The paper aims to investigate and analyze the implementation, outcomes and challenges of the first cycle of SORT IT in China. Main text As a result of the successful implementation, SORT IT China, Cycle 1 has demonstrated fruitful outputs as exemplified by the 18-month follow-up to the post-training initiatives of the twelve participants, who all achieved the four milestones required by SORT IT. Eleven of twelve (92%) manuscripts generated that focused on the prevention and control of malaria, influenza, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B, schistosomiasis, tuberculosis and Japanese encephalitis were published by peer-reviewed international journals with the impact factor ranging from 2.6 to 4.8. The most up-to-date citation count on February 19, 2021 was 53 times out of which 31 times were cited by Science Citation Index papers with 94.827 impact factor in total. Six senior professionals from China CDC also facilitated the whole SORT IT training scheme as co-mentors under the guidance of SORT IT mentors. The twelve participants who gained familiarity with the SORT IT courses and training principles are likely become potential mentors for future SORT IT, but they as the non-first language speakers/users of English also faced the challenge in thoroughly understanding the modules delivered in English and writing English academically to draft the manuscripts. Conclusion The outcomes from the first cycle of SORT IT in China have led to studies contributing to narrowing the knowledge gap among numerous public health challenges nationally and internationally. It is believed the researchers who participated will continue to apply the skills learned within their domain and help build the training capacity for future operational research courses both in China and in developing countries with similar needs. Graphic Abstract

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Does the Structured Operational Research and Training Initiative (SORT IT) continue to influence health policy and/or practice?

Global Health Action ◽

10.1080/16549716.2018.1500762 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 1500762 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Jaya Prasad Tripathy ◽

Ajay MV Kumar ◽

Nathalie Guillerm ◽

Selma Dar Berger ◽

Karen Bissell ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Policy ◽

Operational Research ◽

Sort It ◽

Training Initiative ◽

Or Practice ◽

And Training

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Operational Research Capacity Building through the Structured Operational Research and Training Initiative (SORT IT) Model in Myanmar: National Operational Research Course (2016-17)

Myanmar Health Sciences Research Journal ◽

10.34299/mhsrj.00915 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 31 (1) ◽

pp. 1-8

Keyword(s):

Capacity Building ◽

Operational Research ◽

Research Capacity ◽

Research Capacity Building ◽

Sort It ◽

Training Initiative ◽

And Training

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Investing in Operational Research Capacity Building for Front-Line Health Workers Strengthens Countries’ Resilience to Tackling the COVID-19 Pandemic

Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease ◽

10.3390/tropicalmed5030118 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 5 (3) ◽

pp. 118

Author(s):

Rony Zachariah ◽

Selma Dar Berger ◽

Pruthu Thekkur ◽

Mohammed Khogali ◽

Karapet Davtyan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Health System ◽

Operational Research ◽

Health Workers ◽

Human Resources For Health ◽

Research Training ◽

Research Capacity ◽

Data Generation ◽

Sort It ◽

It Skills

(1) Introduction. The Structured Operational Research and Training IniTiative (SORT IT) supports countries to build operational research capacity for improving public health. We assessed whether health workers trained through SORT IT were (1) contributing to the COVID-19 pandemic response and if so, (2) map where and how they were applying their SORT IT skills. (2) Methods. An online questionnaire survey of SORT IT alumni trained between 2009 and 2019. (3) Results. Of 895 SORT IT alumni from 93 countries, 652 (73%) responded to the survey and 417 were contributing to the COVID-19 response in 72 countries. Of those contributing, 307 (74%) were applying their SORT IT skills to tackle the pandemic in 60 countries and six continents including Africa, Asia, Europe, South Pacific and North/South America. Skills were applied to all the pillars of the emergency response with the highest proportions of alumni applying their skills in data generation/analysis/reporting (56%), situation analysis (55%) and surveillance (41%). Skills were also being used to mitigate the health system effects of COVID-19 on other diseases (27%) and in conducting research (26%). (4) Conclusion. Investing in people and in research training ahead of public health emergencies generates downstream dividends by strengthening health system resilience for tackling pandemics. It also strengthens human resources for health and the integration of research within health systems.

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Quality, Equity and Utility of Observational Studies during 10 Years of Implementing the Structured Operational Research and Training Initiative in 72 Countries

Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease ◽

10.3390/tropicalmed5040167 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 5 (4) ◽

pp. 167

Author(s):

Rony Zachariah ◽

Stefanie Rust ◽

Pruthu Thekkur ◽

Mohammed Khogali ◽

Ajay MV Kumar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Decision Making ◽

Observational Studies ◽

Operational Research ◽

Reporting Quality ◽

Informed Decision ◽

Informed Decision Making ◽

Sort It ◽

Training Initiative ◽

And Training

Introduction: Observational studies are often inadequately reported, making it difficult to assess their validity and generalizability and judge whether they can be included in systematic reviews. We assessed the publication characteristics and quality of reporting of observational studies generated by the Structured Operational Research and Training Initiative (SORT IT). Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of original publications from SORT IT courses. SORT IT is a global partnership-based initiative aimed at building sustainable capacity for conducting operational research according to country priorities and using the generated evidence for informed decision-making to improve public health. Reporting quality was independently assessed using an adapted version of ‘Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology’ (STROBE) checklist. Results: In 392 publications, involving 72 countries, 50 journals, 28 publishers and 24 disease domains, low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) first authorship was seen in 370 (94%) and LMIC last authorship in 214 (55%). Publications involved LMIC-LMIC collaboration in 90% and high-income-country-LMIC collaboration in 87%. The majority (89%) of publications were in immediate open access journals. A total of 346 (88.3%) publications achieved a STROBE reporting quality score of >85% (excellent), 41 (10.4%) achieved a score of 76–85% (good) and 5 (1.3%) a score of 65–75% (fair). Conclusion: The majority of publications from SORT IT adhere to STROBE guidelines, while also ensuring LMIC equity and collaborative partnerships. SORT IT is, thus, playing an important role in ensuring high-quality reporting of evidence for informed decision-making in public health.

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