title: The Structured Operational Research and Training Initiative for public health programmes.
abstract: In 2009, the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union) and Médecins sans Frontières Brussels-Luxembourg (MSF) began developing an outcome-oriented model for operational research training. In January 2013, The Union and MSF joined with the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR) at the World Health Organization (WHO) to form an initiative called the Structured Operational Research and Training Initiative (SORT IT). This integrates the training of public health programme staff with the conduct of operational research prioritised by their programme. SORT IT programmes consist of three one-week workshops over 9 months, with clearly-defined milestones and expected output. This paper describes the vision, objectives and structure of SORT IT programmes, including selection criteria for applicants, the research projects that can be undertaken within the time frame, the programme structure and milestones, mentorship, the monitoring and evaluation of the programmes and what happens beyond the programme in terms of further research, publications and the setting up of additional training programmes. There is a growing national and international need for operational research and related capacity building in public health. SORT IT aims to meet this need by advocating for the output-based model of operational research training for public health programme staff described here. It also aims to secure sustainable funding to expand training at a global and national level. Finally, it could act as an observatory to monitor and evaluate operational research in public health. Criteria for prospective partners wishing to join SORT IT have been drawn up.
authors.affiliation: Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland ; Bute Medical School, University of St Andrews, Fife, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ramsay
authors.affiliation: International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union), Paris, France ; Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Harries
authors.affiliation: Médecins Sans Frontières - Operational Centre Brussels, Medical Department, Operational Research Unit (LuxOR), MSF-Luxembourg Luxembourg.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zachariah
authors.affiliation: International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union), Paris, France ; School of Population Health, The University of Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bissell
authors.affiliation: International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union), Paris, France ; Center for International Health, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Hinderaker
authors.affiliation: International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union), Paris, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Edginton
authors.affiliation: International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union), Paris, France.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Enarson
authors.affiliation: International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union), Paris, France ; The Union South-East Asia Regional Office, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Satyanarayana
authors.affiliation: International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union), Paris, France ; The Union South-East Asia Regional Office, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: A M V
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union), Paris, France.
authors.forename: N B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Hoa
authors.affiliation: International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union), Paris, France.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tweya
authors.affiliation: Médecins Sans Frontières - Operational Centre Brussels, Medical Department, Operational Research Unit (LuxOR), MSF-Luxembourg Luxembourg.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Reid
authors.affiliation: Médecins Sans Frontières - Operational Centre Brussels, Medical Department, Operational Research Unit (LuxOR), MSF-Luxembourg Luxembourg.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Van den Bergh
authors.affiliation: Médecins Sans Frontières - Operational Centre Brussels, Medical Department, Operational Research Unit (LuxOR), MSF-Luxembourg Luxembourg.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tayler-Smith
authors.affiliation: Médecins Sans Frontières - Operational Centre Brussels, Medical Department, Operational Research Unit (LuxOR), MSF-Luxembourg Luxembourg.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Manzi
authors.affiliation: Médecins Sans Frontières - Operational Centre Brussels, Medical Department, Operational Research Unit (LuxOR), MSF-Luxembourg Luxembourg.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khogali
authors.affiliation: Médecins Sans Frontières - Operational Centre Brussels, Medical Department, Operational Research Unit (LuxOR), MSF-Luxembourg Luxembourg.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kizito
authors.affiliation: Médecins Sans Frontières - Operational Centre Brussels, Medical Department, Operational Research Unit (LuxOR), MSF-Luxembourg Luxembourg.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: Médecins Sans Frontières - Operational Centre Brussels, Medical Department, Operational Research Unit (LuxOR), MSF-Luxembourg Luxembourg.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Delaunois
authors.affiliation: Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Reeder
keywords: Médecins Sans Frontières; SORT IT; The Union; WHO, TDR; capacity building; operational research