Preliminary Results from iHEART-SA’s CAB Process Improvement Evaluation

For the iHEART-SA study team, community-engaged research (CEnR) and community-based primary healthcare are integral approaches for integrating hypertension and diabetes care into HIV care. By combining these approaches with stakeholder engagement and a community advisory board, the hope is to integrate health services across South Africa. With this in mind, community and research partnerships are crucial for effective implementation.

In order to continue improving community/research partnerships, Claudia Ordóñez, an adjunct assistant professor at Emory Univerity’s Rollins School of Public Health and the lead for the implementation of CEnR strategies for the iHEART-SA team, conducted a process improvement evaluation of iHEART-SA’s community advisory board (CAB) in late 2022.

Goals of the evaluation included quality improvement and capacity building for the community advisory board and research project implementation, dissemination of CEnR lessons learned to improve stakeholder engagement, and development of a process evaluation template to use for CAB and stakeholder activities.

The evaluation utilized a mixed methods approach with a short survey related to the implementation of the CAB and key informant interviews (KII) to measure the bi-directionality in CEnR. KII participants included patients, health activists, ministry of health leadership, and community liaisons. Preliminary results included seven KII’s that were transcribed, coded, and categorized into three dimensions. These dimensions and specific strategies recommended by CAB members to improve community and CAB/researcher partnerships are below.

Values for trust building in partnerships: Specific strategies included bridging the gap between project and community-based stakeholders, cultivation of interpersonal relationships, and mitigation of assumption by researchers.
Key elements for CAB & project outreach towards community-based stakeholders: Constant bi-directional communication through project liaisons, identifying effective communication technologies such as WhatsApp, and awareness campaigns.
CAB meeting logistics: Identifying key agenda items for each meeting, the frequency and length of meetings should be established early on, and preparing for CAB meeting in advice.

Keep an eye out for the full evaluation results, along with details of iHEART-SA’s CEnR activities, coming soon!

Community Engagement Subcommittee: June 2023 Update

The HLB-SIMPLe Community Engagement Sub-Committee meeting on May 16, 2023

It has been a busy few weeks for the HLB-SIMPLe Community Engagement Subcommittee (CESC)! The leadership transitioned from Mighty Ernest Mosimanegape Moseki (of InterCARE) to Claudia E. Ordóñez (of iHEART-SA) as the new chair, and Nabila Youssouf (of InterCARE) as vice-chair. A huge thank you to Ernest for taking on this position over the last year!

The CESC primary objectives are to: a) Operationalize community-engaged research in the context of implementation science; and b) Facilitate sharing of best practices and lessons learned for community-engaged research among and beyond the HLB-SIMPLe Alliance.

Subcommittee members were able to meet in person for the first time during the HLB-SIMPLe Annual Meeting in Uganda in May and reviewed activities and their progress to date, which include:

Development and implementation of a baseline survey to assess community engagement understanding and approaches among each of the six Alliance projects, with the purpose of disseminating best practices and future benchmarking. Thanks again to all the sites’ teams for your time in the completion of the survey! Results will be disseminated later this year.
“Check-ins” with Alliance projects sharing relevant information for best practices and gathering feedback for support needs regarding CE in implementation science.

The vision for the year ahead centers around more and on-going engagement with a wide range of stakeholders from each of the Alliance projects to foster relations and build a network on HIV and hypertension care. The CESC also wants to hear from all sites and disseminate their important work regarding stakeholder engagement. We plan to publish the community engagement activities and stories from each Alliance site every quarter. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us if you have any ideas, questions, or requests!

Best,

Claudia and Nabila

Recent Publications

The Global Burden of Cardiovascular Diseases and Risk: A Compass for Future Health. Read More

Early stakeholder engagement lessons from managing hypertension among people living with human-immunodeficiency virus: an integrated model (MAP-IT). Read More

The state of costing research for HIV interventions in sub-Saharan Africa. Read More

Learning needs assessment for multi-stakeholder implementation science training in LMIC settings: Findings and recommendations.. Read More

Vertical Programmes in Health Care Read More

Study assesses the impact of policy changes on HIV treatment for all Read More

Funding Opportunities

NOSI (Notice of Special Interest)
NOT-HL-22-010: Research on Barriers to Care and Risk of HIV-Associated Comorbidities Among Vulnerable Population Groups. Submit to PA-20-185 NIH Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed). Key Dates: Expiration (08 May 2025).
NOT-HL-22-002: Resilience and Vulnerability Following Acute Heart, Lung, Blood, and Sleep Insults in People with HIV (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed). Submit to PA-20-185 NIH Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed). Key Dates: Expiration (08 January 2024).
NOT-OD-23-018: Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Administrative Supplement for Research and Capacity Building Efforts Related to Bioethical Issues (Admin Supp Clinical Trial Optional). Key Dates: Expiration (17 February 2023)

PA (Program Announcement)

PAR-21-246: HIV-associated Non-Communicable Diseases Research at Low- and Middle-Income Country Institutions (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) (nih.gov)
PAR-19-362: Planning Grant for Global Infectious Disease Research Training Program (D71 Clinical Trials Not Allowed). Key Dates: Expiration (29 October 2022).
PAR-21-120: Global Infectious Disease Research Training Program (D43 Clinical Trial Optional). Key Dates: Expiration (04 August 2023)
PAR-21-252: Emerging Global Leader Award (K43 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) and PAR-21-251: Emerging Global Leader Award (K43 Independent Clinical Trial Required). Key Dates: Expiration (12 December 2023).
PAR-21-344: Interventions for Stigma Reduction to Improve HIV/AIDS Prevention, Treatment and Care in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (R01 Clinical Trial Optional). Key Dates: Expiration (21 December 2022).
PAR-22-104: Chronic, Non-Communicable Diseases and Disorders Across the Lifespan: Fogarty International Research Training Award (NCD-LIFESPAN) (D43 Clinical Trial Optional). Key Dates: Expiration (16 July 2024).
PAR-22-105: Dissemination and Implementation Research in Health (R01 Clinical Trial Optional). Key Dates: Expiration (08 May 2025).
PAR-22-151: Fogarty HIV Research Training Program for Low- and Middle-Income Country Institutions (D43 Clinical Trial Optional). Key Dates: Expiration (23 August 2024).
PAR-22-152: Planning Grant for Fogarty HIV Research Training Program for Low- and Middle-Income Country Institutions (D71 Clinical Trial Not Allowed). Key Dates: Expiration (23 August 2024).
PAR-22-153: Infrastructure Development Training Programs for Critical HIV Research at Low- and Middle-Income Country Institutions (G11 Clinical Trials Not Allowed). Key Dates: Expiration (23 August 2024).