Mixed method evaluation of the CEBHA+ integrated knowledge translation approach: a protocol

Abstract

Background The Collaboration for Evidence-based Healthcare and Public Health in Africa (CEBHA+) is a research consortium concerned with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of non-communicable diseases. CEBHA+ seeks to engage policymakers and practitioners throughout the research process in order to build lasting relationships, enhance evidence uptake, and create long-term capacity among partner institutions in Ethiopia, Malawi, Rwanda, South Africa and Uganda in collaboration with two German universities. This integrated knowledge translation (IKT) approach includes the formal development, implementation and evaluation of country specific IKT strategies. Methods We have conceptualised the CEBHA+ IKT approach as a complex intervention in a complex system. We will employ a comparative case study (CCS) design and mixed methods to facilitate an in-depth evaluation. We will use quantitative surveys, qualitative interviews, quarterly updates, and a policy document analysis to capture the process and outcomes of IKT across the African CEBHA+ partner sites. We will conduct an early stage (early 2020) and a late-stage evaluation (early 2022), triangulate the data collected with various methods at each site and subsequently compare our findings across the five sites. Discussion Evaluating a complex intervention such as the CEBHA+ IKT approach is complicated, even more so when undertaken across five diverse countries. Despite conceptual, methodological and practical challenges, our comparative case study addresses important evidence gaps: While involving decision-makers in the research process is gaining traction worldwide, we still know very little regarding (i) whether this approach really makes a difference to evidence uptake, (ii) the mechanisms that make IKT successful, and (iii) relevant differences across socio-cultural contexts. The evaluation described here is intended to provide relevant insights on all of these aspects, notably in countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, and is expected to contribute to the science of IKT overall.

Integrated knowledge translation to advance noncommunicable disease policy and practice in South Africa: application of the Exploration, Preparation, Implementation, and Sustainment (EPIS) framework

“…Despite its comprehensiveness and flexibility, however, the CFIR was found to be less suitable to capture the dynamics at play between the inner and outer settings of IKT implementation in our context [43], which involved boundary spanners and the importance of reciprocity Fig. 1 Planned IKT approach [38] in stakeholder relationships. It was decided to revisit the literature and conduct a more extensive mapping of available implementation frameworks and constructs, informed by the review by Tabak et al [44] and complemented by models included in the Dissemination-Implementation Webtool (https:// disse minat ion-imple menta tion.…”

“…The paper is therefore limited to presentation of our own views and perspectives. However, the importance of stakeholder perspectives has been planned [38] and will be reported in a future publication that seeks to evaluate the CEBHA+ IKT approach across all African partner sites. We envisage that our perspective complements the broader evaluation, as it provides more in-depth contextualized information to help interpret the CEBHA+ IKT process and outcome results.…”

“…The CEBHA+ coordinated IKT approach was envisioned as a six-step process [38] (Fig. 1) that commenced with a foundational workshop for all CEBHA+ partners.…”

“…The entire process, however, was iterative in nature and supported by a working group with IKT methods expertise, training opportunities. Step 6-a semi-external cross-country evaluation of the CEBHA+ IKT approach-will be implemented by one of the German partners, the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU), which is not directly involved in operationalizing country-specific IKT approaches [38].…”

Using Citizen Science Within an Integrated Knowledge Translation (IKT) Approach to Explore Cardiovascular Disease Risk Perception in Rwanda

“…This approach was implemented in three out of five CEBHA+ sites (Ethiopia, Malawi and Rwanda) and the study protocol integrating the citizen science implementation was published elsewhere (8). Further details about the CEBHA+ project are described elsewhere as well (9,10). Essentially, in Rwanda, research activities of the CEBHA+ project have been implemented through the following four research tasks (RTs):…”