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Table 1 Comparison of the initial and revised structure of the Union-MSF model of operational research course

From: Operational research capacity building using ‘The Union/MSF’ model: adapting as we go along

Aspect

Initial model

Revised model

Duration of the module

Each module was five days in duration. In Module 2, about 3.5 days were used on data entry and the rest on data analysis. While some courses offered tailored support on data entry and data presentation in function of the participant OR projects, no focus could be placed on data analysis in function of the specific projects.

Duration of Module 1 and 2 increased to six days while that of Module 3 increased to eight days.

In Module 1, the extra day was used to introduce two new sessions – one on the systematic search of published literature and another on organizing references.

In Module 2, we allocated two days for data entry, two days for data analysis, one day to develop data entry tools and the data-analysis plan for the participants’ research projects, and one day for plenary for presenting the data entry formats and dummy analytic tables.

In Module 3, the first two days (Friday and Saturday) were dedicated to data analysis and interpretation followed by a day’s break (Sunday) for self-study and reading published literature. Projects requiring ‘multivariate regression analyses’ were supported on a case-to-case basis. This was followed by five days (Monday to Friday) for drafting the manuscript. A new plenary was introduced for presenting ‘titles and abstracts’.

Number of facilitators

In previous courses, the number of facilitators for Modules 1 and 3 varied from 6 to 9 and the number of mentor groups varied from 3 to 4. The facilitators worked in pairs - one senior (relatively more experienced in conducting and publishing OR) and one junior facilitator (usually one of the successful participants in the previous courses).

Number of facilitators in Modules 1 and 3 was standardized to eight (each pair of facilitators with three mentees)

For Module 2, facilitators varied in number from two to six and there were a variable number of participants per facilitator.

Number of facilitators in Module 2 was increased and standardized to six – each had two mentees

Strengthened milestones

The milestones attached to Module 2 were weak, subjective and relied upon a self-declaration by the participant prior to Module 3 that the data collection had been completed.

The milestones related to Module 2 were modified and made more objective – one to be met within two weeks of Module 2 (submission of a plan for data collection, electronic data capture formats in EpiData (http://www.epidata.dk) and dummy tables and figures to facilitate analysis and reporting). The second milestone at least six weeks prior to Module 3 included submission of proof of study completion including the dataset and a draft analysis.