Squires A, Chitashvili T, Djibuti M, Ridge L, Chyun D
New York University, 433 First Avenue, New York, NY 10010, USA.
USAID Apply Science to Strengthen and Improve Systems (ASSIST) Project, 7200 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 600, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA.
Public Health. 2017 Jun;147:1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.puhe.2017.01.024. Epub 2017 Mar 6.
Research capacity building in the health sciences in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) has typically focused on bench-science capacity, but research examining health service delivery and health workforce is equally necessary to determine the best ways to deliver care. The Republic of Georgia, formerly a part of the Soviet Union, has multiple issues within its healthcare system that would benefit from expended research capacity, but the current research environment needs to be explored prior to examining research-focused activities. The purpose of this project was to conduct a needs assessment focused on developing research capacity in the Republic of Georgia with an emphasis on workforce and network development.
A case study approach guided by a needs assessment format.
We conducted in-country, informal, semi-structured interviews in English with key informants and focus groups with faculty, students, and representatives of local non-governmental organizations. Purposive and snowball sampling approaches were used to recruit participants, with key informant interviews scheduled prior to arrival in country. Documents relevant to research capacity building were also included. Interview results were coded via content analysis. Final results were organized into a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threat) analysis format, with the report shared with participants.
There is widespread interest among students and faculty in Georgia around building research capacity. Lack of funding was identified by many informants as a barrier to research. Many critical research skills, such as proposal development, qualitative research skills, and statistical analysis, were reported as very limited. Participants expressed concerns about the ethics of research, with some suggesting that research is undertaken to punish or 'expose' subjects. However, students and faculty are highly motivated to improve their skills, are open to a variety of learning modalities, and have research priorities aligned with Georgian health needs.
This study's findings indicate that while the Georgian research infrastructure needs further development, Georgian students and faculty are eager to supplement its gaps by improving their own skills. These findings are consistent with those seen in other developing country contexts.
低收入和中等收入国家（LMICs）卫生科学领域的研究能力建设通常侧重于基础科学能力，但研究卫生服务提供和卫生人力对于确定最佳护理提供方式同样必要。格鲁吉亚共和国曾是苏联的一部分，其医疗保健系统存在多个问题，扩大研究能力将使其受益，但在研究重点活动之前，需要先探索当前的研究环境。本项目的目的是进行一项需求评估，重点是在格鲁吉亚共和国发展研究能力，尤其注重人力和网络发展。
采用以需求评估形式为指导的案例研究方法。
我们在格鲁吉亚国内用英语对关键信息提供者进行了非正式的半结构化访谈，并与教师、学生和当地非政府组织代表进行了焦点小组访谈。采用目的抽样和滚雪球抽样方法招募参与者，关键信息提供者访谈在抵达该国之前安排。还纳入了与研究能力建设相关的文件。通过内容分析对访谈结果进行编码。最终结果整理成SWOT（优势、劣势、机会、威胁）分析形式，并将报告与参与者分享。
格鲁吉亚的学生和教师普遍对建设研究能力感兴趣。许多信息提供者认为缺乏资金是研究的障碍。许多关键的研究技能，如提案撰写、定性研究技能和统计分析，据报告非常有限。参与者对研究伦理表示担忧，一些人认为研究是为了惩罚或“揭露”受试者。然而，学生和教师有很高的积极性来提高他们的技能，对各种学习方式持开放态度，并且研究重点与格鲁吉亚的卫生需求一致。
本研究结果表明，虽然格鲁吉亚的研究基础设施需要进一步发展，但格鲁吉亚的学生和教师渴望通过提高自身技能来弥补差距。这些发现与其他发展中国家的情况一致。
