title: Exploring the effects of task shifting for HIV through a systems thinking lens: the case of Burkina Faso.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  While the impact of task shifting on quality of care and clinical outcomes has been demonstrated in several studies, evidence on its impact on the health system as a whole is limited. This study has two main objectives. The first is to conceptualize the wider range of effects of task shifting through a systems thinking lens. The second is to explore these effects using task shifting for HIV in Burkina Faso as a case study.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used a case study approach, using qualitative research methods. Data sources included document reviews, reviews of available data and records, as well as interviews with key informants and health workers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In addition to the traditional measures of impact of task shifting on health outcomes, our study identified 20 possible effects of the strategy on the system as a whole. Moreover, our analysis highlighted the importance of differentiating between two types of health systems effects. The first are effects inherent to the task shifting strategy itself, such as job satisfaction or better access to health services. The second are effects due to health system barriers, for example the unavailability of medicines and supplies, generating a series of effects on the various components of the health system, e.g., staff frustration.Among the health systems effects that we found are positive, mostly unintended, effects and synergies such as increased health workers' sense of responsibility and worthiness, increased satisfaction due to using the newly acquired skills in other non-HIV tasks, as well as improved patient-provider relationships. Among the negative unintended effects are staff frustration due to lack of medicines and supplies or lack of the necessary infrastructure to be able to perform the new tasks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our analysis highlights the importance of adopting a systems thinking approach in designing, implementing and evaluating health policies to mitigate some of the design issues or system bottle-necks that may impede their successful implementation or risk to present an incomplete or misleading picture of their impact.
authors.forename: Fadima
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yaya Bocoum
authors.forename: Seni
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kouanda
authors.forename: Bocar
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kouyaté
authors.forename: Sennen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hounton
authors.affiliation: Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research, World Health Organization, Geneva 1211, Switzerland. adamt@who.int.
authors.forename: Taghreed
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Adam
mesh_terms: D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002050:Burkina Faso; D003153:Community Health Services; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006282:Health Personnel; D006291:Health Policy; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007588:Job Satisfaction