title: The path to impact of operational research on tuberculosis control policies and practices in Indonesia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Operational research is currently one of the pillars of the global strategy to control tuberculosis. Indonesia initiated capacity building for operational research on tuberculosis over the last decade. Although publication of the research in peer-reviewed journals is an important indicator for measuring the success of this endeavor, the influence of operational research on policy and practices is considered even more important. However, little is known about the process by which operational research influences tuberculosis control policy and practices.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to investigate the influence of operational research on tuberculosis control policy and practice in Indonesia between 2004 and 2014.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a qualitative study design, we conducted in-depth interviews of 50 researchers and 30 policy makers/program managers and performed document reviews. Transcripts of these interviews were evaluated while applying content analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Operational research contributed to tuberculosis control policy and practice improvements, including development of new policies, introduction of new practices, and reinforcement of current program policies and practices. However, most of these developments had limited sustainability. The path from the dissemination of research results and recommendations to policy and practice changes was long and complex. The skills, interests, and political power of researchers and policy makers, as well as health system response, could influence the process.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Operational research contributed to improving tuberculosis control policy and practices. A systematic approach to improve the sustainability of the impact of operational research should be explored.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Sebelas Maret University, Surakarta, Indonesia; ariprobandari@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Ari
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Probandari
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Promotion, Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Diponegoro, Semarang, Indonesia.
authors.forename: Bagoes
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Widjanarko
authors.affiliation: Centre for Health Policy and Management, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
authors.forename: Yodi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mahendradhata
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Sebelas Maret University, Surakarta, Indonesia.
authors.forename: Hary
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sanjoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Sebelas Maret University, Surakarta, Indonesia.
authors.forename: Ancila
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cerisha
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Sebelas Maret University, Surakarta, Indonesia.
authors.forename: Saverina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nungky
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia.
authors.forename: Pandu
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Riono
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Atmajaya, Jakarta, Indonesia.
authors.forename: Sumanto
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia.
authors.forename: Muhammad Noor
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Farid
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonology and Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia.
authors.forename: Sardikin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Giriputra
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Udayana, Denpasar, Indonesia.
authors.forename: Artawan Eka
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Putra
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonology and Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia.
authors.forename: Erlina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Burhan
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia.
authors.forename: Chatarina U
authors.initials: CU
authors.lastname: Wahyuni
authors.affiliation: Sub-directorate of Tuberculosis, Ministry of Health, Jakarta, Indonesia.
authors.forename: Dyah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mustikawati
authors.affiliation: Sub-directorate of Tuberculosis, Ministry of Health, Jakarta, Indonesia.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Widianingrum
authors.affiliation: KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation, The Hague, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Edine W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Tiemersma
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Padjajaran, Bandung, Indonesia.
authors.forename: Bachti
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Alisjahbana
mesh_terms: D057191:Capacity Building; D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration; D006291:Health Policy; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D007214:Indonesia; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D009874:Operations Research; D011050:Policy Making; D015397:Program Evaluation; D036301:Qualitative Research; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000517:prevention & control*
keywords: Indonesia; knowledge translation; operational research; qualitative study; research; tuberculosis