BACKGROUND: In the second decade of the AIDS epidemic in Brazil, public sector and non-governmental organization (NGO) initiatives multiplied, fostered by state AIDS Control Programmes. A growing gap between capacity and a need for programme evaluation and the dissemination of findings from experience in the field, combined with the failure of traditional training approaches to bridge this gap adequately, inspired this non-degree research training programme at a major Brazilian university. OBJECTIVES: To train health professionals and activists working with HIV/AIDS prevention and services to evaluate and disseminate their experiences, and to enable them to multiply this training in their organizations, working in a collaborative process with graduate students and senior researchers. PROCEDURES: As part of a 9-month research methods course, 52 representatives from NGO and public health services produced research protocols that were reviewed and strengthened through a formal peer review process. Eleven protocols judged to be the best received funding and close mentorship over the next 21 months for their implementation, analysis, and dissemination. LESSONS LEARNED: Participants increased their ability to master and review critically the AIDS literature, to conduct a research protocol and to disseminate the results of their studies. After completion of the 30-month process, many participants were able to present their findings at scientific conferences or publish their results in peer-reviewed scientific journals. This model of close NGO-university successful collaboration may inspire other models of research training for those in the front-lines of the fight against the epidemic.
BACKGROUND: In the second decade of the AIDS epidemic in Brazil, public sector and non-governmental organization (NGO) initiatives multiplied, fostered by state AIDS Control Programmes. A growing gap between capacity and a need for programme evaluation and the dissemination of findings from experience in the field, combined with the failure of traditional training approaches to bridge this gap adequately, inspired this non-degree research training programme at a major Brazilian university. OBJECTIVES: To train health professionals and activists working with HIV/AIDS prevention and services to evaluate and disseminate their experiences, and to enable them to multiply this training in their organizations, working in a collaborative process with graduate students and senior researchers. PROCEDURES: As part of a 9-month research methods course, 52 representatives from NGO and public health services produced research protocols that were reviewed and strengthened through a formal peer review process. Eleven protocols judged to be the best received funding and close mentorship over the next 21 months for their implementation, analysis, and dissemination. LESSONS LEARNED: Participants increased their ability to master and review critically the AIDS literature, to conduct a research protocol and to disseminate the results of their studies. After completion of the 30-month process, many participants were able to present their findings at scientific conferences or publish their results in peer-reviewed scientific journals. This model of close NGO-university successful collaboration may inspire other models of research training for those in the front-lines of the fight against the epidemic.
Authors: Alan Berkman; Jonathan Garcia; Miguel Muñoz-Laboy; Vera Paiva; Richard Parker Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2005-06-02 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: Renato M Liboro; Sean B Rourke; Francisco Ibañez-Carrasco; Andrew Eaton; Daniel Pugh; Claudia Medina; Allan Rae; Paul A Shuper; Lori E Ross Journal: J Int Assoc Provid AIDS Care Date: 2019 Jan-Dec