Vanderbilt Institute for Global Health, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 2525 West End Avenue Suite 750, Nashville, TN, 37203, USA.
Departments of Pediatrics, Health Policy, and Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
BMC Med Educ. 2022 Feb 14;22(1):97. doi: 10.1186/s12909-022-03162-8.
Capacity strengthening initiatives aimed at increasing research knowledge and skills of investigators in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) have been implemented over the last several decades. With increased capacity, local investigators will have greater leadership in defining research priorities and impact policy change to help improve health outcomes. Evaluations of models of capacity strengthening programs are often limited to short-term impact. Noting the limitations of traditional output-based evaluations, we utilized a broader framework to evaluate the long-term impact of the Vanderbilt Institute in Research Development and Ethics (VIRDE), a decade-old intensive grant development practicum specifically tailored for investigators from LMICs.
To assess the impact of VIRDE on the research careers of alumni over the past 10 years, we surveyed alumni on research engagement, grant productivity, career trajectory, and knowledge gained in grant writing. Descriptive statistics, including means and total counts, and paired sample t-tests were used to analyze the data.
Forty-six of 58 alumni completed the survey. All respondents returned to their home countries and are currently engaged in research. Post-VIRDE grant writing knowledge ratings were significantly greater than pre-VIRDE. The number of respondents submitting grants post-VIRDE was 2.6 times higher than before the program. Eighty-three percent of respondents submitted a total of 147 grants post-VIRDE, of which 45.6% were awarded. Respondents acknowledged VIRDE's positive impact on career growth and leadership, with 88% advancing in career stage.
Gains in grant writing knowledge and grant productivity suggest that VIRDE scholars built skills and confidence in grant writing during the program. A substantial proportion of respondents have advanced in their careers and continue to work in academia in their country of origin. Results show a sustained impact on the research careers of VIRDE alumni. The broader framework for research capacity strengthening resulted in an expansive assessment of the VIRDE program and alumni, illuminating successful program elements and implications that can inform similar capacity strengthening programs.
为了提高低收入和中等收入国家（LMICs）研究人员的研究知识和技能，过去几十年中已经实施了多项能力建设计划。随着能力的提高，当地研究人员将在确定研究重点和影响政策变化方面发挥更大的领导作用，以帮助改善健康结果。对能力建设计划模型的评估通常仅限于短期影响。鉴于传统基于产出的评估的局限性，我们利用更广泛的框架来评估范德比尔特研究发展与伦理研究所（VIRDE）的长期影响，这是一个针对来自 LMICs 的研究人员的为期十年的密集资助开发实践。
为了评估 VIRDE 在过去十年中对校友研究职业的影响，我们对校友进行了研究参与度、资助生产力、职业轨迹和资助写作知识方面的调查。使用描述性统计，包括平均值和总计数，以及配对样本 t 检验来分析数据。
58 名校友中有 46 名完成了调查。所有受访者都回到了自己的祖国，目前正在从事研究工作。接受 VIRDE 培训后的资助写作知识评分明显高于接受前。接受 VIRDE 培训后提交资助的人数是培训前的 2.6 倍。83%的受访者提交了 147 项 VIRDE 培训后的资助，其中 45.6%获得了资助。受访者承认 VIRDE 对职业发展和领导力的积极影响，其中 88%的人在职业阶段取得了进步。
在资助写作知识和资助生产力方面的收益表明，VIRDE 学者在培训期间在资助写作方面建立了技能和信心。相当一部分受访者在职业生涯中取得了进步，并继续在原籍国的学术界工作。结果表明，VIRDE 校友的研究职业持续受到影响。更广泛的研究能力建设框架对 VIRDE 计划和校友进行了广泛评估，阐明了成功的计划要素和对类似能力建设计划的启示。
