1Division of Pediatric Infectious Disease and Global Health and Director of Pediatric Global Health Education within the Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana.
2Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2021 Jun 28;105(2):407-412. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.21-0156.
Global health partnerships (GHPs) have encountered many challenges during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. New perspectives and insights are needed to guide GHPs when navigating current and future collaborations. This study aimed to understand perspectives and insights of international partners regarding how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted their GHPs with institutions in the United States. We performed a cross-sectional qualitative study conducted through virtual semi-structured interviews performed between June 12, 2020 and July 22, 2020. We queried academic institutions based in the United States to refer individuals from their corresponding international GHP organizations. We invited these individuals to participate in virtual interviews that were audio-recorded and transcribed. We analyzed data qualitatively to identify themes. Eighty-four United States partners provided e-mail addresses for international partners. Ten individuals from these GHPs completed the interview. Participants reported overall positive experiences with their United States-based partners during the pandemic. The following themes emerged: imbalanced decision-making; worry about partnership continuity; opportunity to optimize communication within partnerships; interest in incorporating technology to facilitate engagement; and a desire for increased bilateral exchanges. Several challenges appeared to exist before COVID-19 and were highlighted by the pandemic. Most respondents were optimistic regarding the future of their GHPs. However, concerns were expressed regarding the implications of fewer in-person international experiences with United States trainees and the desire for stronger communication. Although our results do not represent the perspectives and insights of all GHPs, they provide considerations for the future. We urge institutions in the United States to re-examine and strive for equitable relationships with their international partners.
全球卫生伙伴关系（GHPs）在 2019 年冠状病毒病（COVID-19）大流行期间遇到了许多挑战。需要新的观点和见解来指导 GHPs 当前和未来的合作。本研究旨在了解国际合作伙伴对 COVID-19 大流行如何影响他们与美国机构的 GHPs 的看法和见解。我们进行了一项横断面定性研究，通过 2020 年 6 月 12 日至 7 月 22 日期间进行的虚拟半结构式访谈进行。我们查询了美国的学术机构，要求他们从各自的国际 GHP 组织中推荐人员。我们邀请这些人参加虚拟访谈，访谈内容被录音并记录下来。我们对数据进行了定性分析，以确定主题。84 名美国合作伙伴提供了国际合作伙伴的电子邮件地址。来自这些 GHPs 的 10 人完成了采访。参与者报告说，在大流行期间，他们与美国的合作伙伴总体上有着积极的合作体验。出现了以下主题：决策不平衡；担心伙伴关系的连续性；优化伙伴关系内沟通的机会；对采用技术以促进参与的兴趣；以及增加双边交流的愿望。在 COVID-19 之前似乎存在一些挑战，而大流行则突显了这些挑战。大多数受访者对他们的 GHPs 的未来持乐观态度。然而，有人对美国受训者减少面对面的国际经验以及加强沟通的愿望表示担忧。尽管我们的结果并不代表所有 GHPs 的观点和见解，但它们为未来提供了一些考虑因素。我们敦促美国各机构重新审视并努力与国际合作伙伴建立平等的关系。
