title: Building Global Capacity for Conducting Operational Research Using the SORT IT Model: Where and Who?
abstract: METHODS
  Research capacity is weakest in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) where operational research is highly relevant and needed. Structured Operational Research and Training Initiative (SORT IT) courses have been developed to train participants to conduct and publish operational research and influence policy and practice. Twenty courses were completed in Asia, Africa, Europe and the South Pacific between 2009 and 2014.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In the 20 completed SORT IT courses, to assess where the research was conducted, who was trained, who became facilitators in subsequent courses and course outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cohort study of completed SORT IT courses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 236 participants (41% female) including 64 nationalities who conducted research in 59 countries, mostly from Asia and Africa (mean course duration = 9.7 months). Most participants (68%) were from government health programs and non-governmental agencies. A total of 213(90%) participants completed all milestones successfully with 41(19%) becoming subsequent course facilitators, 88% of whom were from LMICs. Of 228 manuscripts submitted to scientific journals, 197(86%) were either published or in press; in 86%, the principal investigator (first author) was a LMIC national. Papers were published in 23 scientific journals (impact factor 0.5-4.4) and covered 21 disease categories (median publication time = 5.7 months). Published papers (186) had 94,794 cumulative article views/downloads. Article views/downloads for immediate open access articles were double those from closed access journals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The SORT IT model has been effective in training personnel to produce relevant operational research in LMICs. It merits continued commitment and support for further scale-up and development.
authors: Médecins Sans Frontières, Medical Department, Brussels Operational Centre, MSF-Luxembourg, Luxembourg.
authors: Rony
authors: R
authors: Zachariah
authors: KNCV, Tuberculosis Foundation, The Hague, Netherlands.
authors: Stefanie
authors: S
authors: Rust
authors: International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Paris, France.
authors: Selma Dar
authors: SD
authors: Berger
authors: International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Paris, France.
authors: Nathalie
authors: N
authors: Guillerm
authors: International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Paris, France.|School of Population Health, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors: Karen
authors: K
authors: Bissell
authors: Médecins Sans Frontières, Medical Department, Brussels Operational Centre, MSF-Luxembourg, Luxembourg.
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Delaunois
authors: Médecins Sans Frontières, Medical Department, Brussels Operational Centre, MSF-Luxembourg, Luxembourg.
authors: Anthony J
authors: AJ
authors: Reid
authors: International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Paris, France.|International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, South-East Asia Regional Office, New Delhi, India.
authors: Ajay M V
authors: AM
authors: Kumar
authors: Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR), World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors: Piero L
authors: PL
authors: Olliaro
authors: Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR), World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors: John C
authors: JC
authors: Reeder
authors: International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Paris, France.|London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, United Kingdom.
authors: Anthony D
authors: AD
authors: Harries
authors: Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR), World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.|School of Medicine, University of St Andrews, Fife, Scotland, United Kingdom.
authors: Andrew
authors: A
authors: Ramsay
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D057191:Capacity Building / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003710:Demography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D038622:Internationality; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D011642:Publications / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012106:Research / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*