xxx_decript_mon00/1 quality and impact of social science and operations research by the special...
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Quality and impact of Quality and impact of Social Science and Social Science and
Operations ResearchOperations Researchby the Special by the Special
Programme in Human Programme in Human Reproduction Reproduction Department of Department of
Reproductive Health and Reproductive Health and ResearchResearch
World Health World Health OrganizationOrganization
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Plan of presentationPlan of presentation
• Background to reproductive health research at WHO
• Social science and operations research
• Review procedures for quality of research
• Evaluating the impact of research
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Original (1971) goals of the Original (1971) goals of the ProgrammeProgramme
• Increase understanding of the human reproductive process
• Develop a variety of safe, acceptable and effective methods for the regulation of human fertility
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Original objectivesOriginal objectives• Improve the quality and expand the
quantity of multi-disciplinary research
• Conduct collaborative clinical studies of fertility regulating agents on a global basis
• Organise multi-centred research teams
• Improve communication and collaboration among scientists
• Increase the number of scientists in the field of human reproduction
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Current mandateCurrent mandate66. The World Health Organization in co-
operation with other relevant United Nations bodies is urged to fulfil its leadership role within the United Nations system in assisting countries, in particular developing countries, to put in place standards for the care and treatment for women and girls…and to advise on functions that health facilities should perform to help guide the development of health systems to reduce the risks associated with pregnancy… (ICPD+5 Key actions)
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ObjectivesObjectives• To promote, facilitate and conduct research to
improve reproductive health
• To support countries with knowledge and tools to formulate policies and strategies to implement appropriate interventions to improve reproductive health
• To strengthen the capacity for reproductive health research in developing countries
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Priority Areas of WorkPriority Areas of Work
Unsafe abortionUnsafe abortionAdolescentAdolescentreproductive healthreproductive health
Fertility regulationFertility regulation
Maternal healthMaternal health
RTIs/cervical cancerRTIs/cervical cancer
FGM / harmfulFGM / harmfulpracticespractices
Planning and programmingPlanning and programming
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The Programme’s ResearchThe Programme’s Research
Type of research: Bio-medical; epidemiological and social science and operations research
Coverage: Global and regional
Topics: Related to priorities in reproductive health
Conducting research: Through collaborating centres or individual national researchers
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Major Social Science research initiatives since
1990• Determinants & Consequences of Induced
Abortion [27 Projects ]
• Sexual Behaviour & Reproductive Health [38 projects]
• Reproductive Health in South Asia [14 projects]
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Major Social Science research initiatives since
1990• Role of Men in Reproductive Health [17 projects]
• Pregnancy Prevention in the era of HIV/STIs [7 projects]
• Adolescent sexual and reproductive health [31 projects]
• Quality of care in reproductive health [on-going]
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Number of projects, by topic, Number of projects, by topic, 1990-20001990-2000
49
39
38
34
19
15
11
7
7
3
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Sexual behaviour
Adolescents
Contraceptive use
Abortion
Role of men
User's Perspectives
Gender
Maternal health
Birth spacing
STI s
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Guiding principles for Guiding principles for supportsupport
• Research is to be of high relevance to country needs with potential for impact
• Research in partnership with local institution(s) and the Government
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Guiding principles for Guiding principles for supportsupport
• By local researcher(s)
• Scientifically sound and ethically acceptable
• Focussed, in-depth and small scale
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Procedures to ensure Procedures to ensure quality of research quality of research
proposalsproposals• Scientific review by an independent Panel
of scientists
• Projects approved by the Panel are reviewed by an independent Scientific and Ethical Review Group (SERG)
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Monitoring the quality of Monitoring the quality of the research programme the research programme and assessing progressand assessing progress
• An independent Scientific and Technical Advisory Group (STAG)– Regional Advisory Panels– Gender Advisory Panel
• Policy and Co-ordination Committee (PCC)
• Occasional evaluation
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Impact evaluation 1989Impact evaluation 1989
• Review team: 6 internationally renowned scientists with no affiliation to the Programme
• Criteria for evaluation: Relevance to developing countries; impact of research; capacity-building
• Procedures:– Review of published material– Interviews with “stake holders”– Site-visits to selected countries
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Impact evaluation 2001Impact evaluation 2001
• Criteria: Relevance to developing countries; impact of research and capacity-building
• Process: Open for bids
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Searching for the impact!
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The focus on “impact”The focus on “impact”Who is asking?
•Donors to the Programme
•World Health Assembly
•Other “stake holders”
•Programme Committees/Panels
•Staff (from investigators)
Who is asking?
•Donors to the Programme
•World Health Assembly
•Other “stake holders”
•Programme Committees/Panels
•Staff (from investigators)
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Review Form for proposalsReview Form for proposals
•Overall assessment and feasibility: Please comment on the overall quality of this project.
•Policy relevance: Does the project - including its objectives and expected outcomes - have potential policy relevance?
•Other: objectives, study design, sampling, conceptual framework, field procedures, and analysis plans
•Overall assessment and feasibility: Please comment on the overall quality of this project.
•Policy relevance: Does the project - including its objectives and expected outcomes - have potential policy relevance?
•Other: objectives, study design, sampling, conceptual framework, field procedures, and analysis plans
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Ethical considerations: Please comment briefly on the ethical aspects of this proposal, including any problem you foresee with the informed consent procedures and forms.
Ethical considerations: Please comment briefly on the ethical aspects of this proposal, including any problem you foresee with the informed consent procedures and forms.
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Mechanisms to promote impact Mechanisms to promote impact of Social Science & Operations of Social Science & Operations
ResearchResearch
•Support and encouragement to investigators
•“Policy briefs” & “Press release”
•Developing guidelines, incorporating findings
•Publication and dissemination
•Support and encouragement to investigators
•“Policy briefs” & “Press release”
•Developing guidelines, incorporating findings
•Publication and dissemination
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Expectations & Process Expectations & Process IndicatorsIndicators
•Policy formation and change (reference to project or project findings)
•Changes in service provision
•IEC material for local communities
•Publication and dissemination of information
•Policy formation and change (reference to project or project findings)
•Changes in service provision
•IEC material for local communities
•Publication and dissemination of information
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When research is likely to When research is likely to produce impact?produce impact?
•Addressing a local issue of high priority with involvement of Government agency/officials (e.g., provision of IUDs by midwives in Turkey)
•Dealing with sensitive issues (e.g., abortion in Mauritius and sexual behaviour in Argentina)
•When local investigator(s) is committed (e.g., in Argentina, Colombia, Kenya, Nepal)
•Addressing a local issue of high priority with involvement of Government agency/officials (e.g., provision of IUDs by midwives in Turkey)
•Dealing with sensitive issues (e.g., abortion in Mauritius and sexual behaviour in Argentina)
•When local investigator(s) is committed (e.g., in Argentina, Colombia, Kenya, Nepal)
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When research is likely to When research is likely to produce impact?produce impact?
•Part of a research initiative or of a collaborative research (e.g., abortion research initiative and many epidemiological studies on IUDs; DMPA; oral contraceptives)
•Part of a research initiative or of a collaborative research (e.g., abortion research initiative and many epidemiological studies on IUDs; DMPA; oral contraceptives)
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Quality of research and the Quality of research and the impact of researchimpact of research
•Difficult to attribute the “impact” to research, let alone to the quality of research
•Quality research is essential, but may have no bearing on policies/programmes
•Difficult to attribute the “impact” to research, let alone to the quality of research
•Quality research is essential, but may have no bearing on policies/programmes
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Just tell me what is the most important factor in making an impact!
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The INVESTIGATOR is by far the most important in the set of facilitating factors.