Table 3 Challenges faced by country RCB programs and recommended solutions
Challenges | Level of challengea | Solutions |
|---|---|---|
Trainee backgrounds | ||
 Language barriers | 1.0 | Develop/strengthen internal resources: - Strong English speakers on the team to review/edit materials - Work with trainees/ teams to improve English skills - Support groups / workshops e.g. writing workshop, analysis clinic Adjust according to trainee background: - Re-orient training priorities to match trainee baseline skills - Have a spectrum of activities for different skills levels so trainees can start at appropriate levels and grow in the program - Use those with advanced in skills as Research / Training Assistants or trainers Increase publication success: - Seek journals that welcome operational research - Increase writing mentorship to get to publication quality - Pair trainees with mentors for intensive support - Publish in local language then translate to English |
 Mismatch between participants capabilities and training priorities | 1.2 | |
 Difficulty managing groups of different academic levels | 0.8 | |
 Difficulty for participants to publish in international journals | 1.6 | |
Mentorship, teaching and trainee support | ||
 Inability of mentors to follow-up due to high need of mentorship | 1.4 | Prioritize mentorship: - Recruit and fund mentors primarily for RCB activities - Build mentorship into RCB activities - Leverage long distance mentors through phone / skype meetings and email reviews but ideally still have periodic face to face mentorship Make mentorship efficient: - Encourage group mentorship e.g. writing retreats - Project managers/coordinators to track mentorship needs to reduce stalling of projects that need further help |
 Participant drop out due to lack of mentorship | 1.0 | |
 Poor communication between participants and supervisors | 0.6 | |
Infrastructure and logistics challenges | ||
 Difficulty in securing adequate space for RCB activities | 0.0 | Prioritize funding infrastructure / logistics - Rent training space/ build training center - Pay for participants transport - Budget for necessary materials e.g. portable internet modems, satellite internet installation, data analysis software |
 Difficulty for participants in accessing training location | 0.0 | |
 Inadequate materials for participants to complete research | 0.8 | |
 Poor internet for participants | 1.2 | |
 Poor internet for facilitators/mentors | 0.4 | |
Institutional support and buy-in | ||
 Difficulty getting buy-in for RCB activities from institutions | 0.6 | Make RCB integrated with a budget line and dedicated staff Cultivate RCB as organizational core ethos - Develop research guidelines that outline capacity building as a component for all research activities - Train leaders to be consumers of research Seek support from the Ministry of Health for increased collaboration and support of employee participation |
 RCB initiatives blocked by leadership | 0.0 | |
 Competing work responsibilities for participants | 1.4 | |
Sustainability and funding challenges | ||
 Participant drop out due to changing employment | 1.6 | Employ trainee retention strategies - Invest in professional development such as scholarships - Allow continued involvement despite attrition as long as trainee stays meaningfully engaged Use trainee involvement strategies - Pay for percent time for research - Align research to be seen as part of work Broaden network of support / funding - Seek and advocate for government support/funding - Develop training programs within established institutions such as universities - Seek for specific funding pools that support RCB - Plan for long-term training programs |
 Dependence on external institutions or donors for funding | 1.6 | |
 Donors don’t want to fund these types of activities | 0.8 | |