Micky Hingorani
Forum Replies Created
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This lesson gave me more insight to evaluate the stakeholders involvement at my site and their involvement. I now know and see the gaps which will need me to relook and have a better plan
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Hi everyone! What about engaging community members in formative research activities to help with message development and communications planning? Has anyone had experience with linking formative activities to those aspects of GPP ?
I love Neetha’s comment about engaging stakeholders in a situational analysis– this was probably useful to assess potential risks or identify groups to engage that might spread inaccurate information as well?
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Formative research provides a firm ground for effective community engagement. It is through formative research that the research team understands its community, learns and develops strategies on how to engage them in the research activities.
Our sit has managed to Map community leaders and Conduct Focus Group Discussions with different Stakeholders in different study communities.
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- Discuss the link between formative research and community engagement for a trial. How are they alike? What are some differences between the two?
The link between the two is that formative research provides a systematic documented understanding of the community and helps with engaging the relevant community structures as one is able to assess the research responses. Not all trials have formative research and sites conduct community engagement by developing a community profile and situational analysis based on available information within the organisations in the community. The difference is also that with formative research one needs to get local IRB approvals as data is collected and interviews are held often for the purpose of publication in peer reviewed journals. Community teams who engage the community do not always document all responses in a systematic manner but currently documentation for all community work is now a requirement. Formative research also has focused objectives and data collection methods to achieve the objectives. Recent PrEP trials have had formative research to provide researchers with a better understanding of the socio-cultural context of the community.
- What types of formative research activities have you conducted in your context? How have you involved community stakeholders in these formative research activities? If not, how could you potentially involve them?
We have not conducted formative research in the setting but we have developed a community profile and situational analysis of the community with assistance of stakeholders. They have worked with us to help us understand the dynamics of the community. In a previous trial, the community members where interviewed by researchers as part of a social science sub study within the clinical trial. This provided valuable information about the stakeholders and their acceptability of the trial and product.
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Thanks Nokulanga and Jessica,
other important links i may think in formative research at my area is having discussion forum or meetings with local government authorities (LGA), area counselors and community chiefs (famously known as MWENE). These are people who are very respected, trusted and influential in the community, if the research team has all the support from these people entry and recruitment in that community will be smooth. Furthermore these are the people who understand very well the culture, beliefs and norms of the particular area they always give advise or guidance on what or how to approach some of the sensitive matters or issues that might be of the concern in the area. on the other hand if something goes wrong with regards to study or there is misconception or concern we want to manage we always use the same stakeholders to seat together and discuss how to talk the matter
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formative research is what we do to ensure we have the basics rights about the population we what to engage with. community engagement is plan design to ensure that our community is well informed about our research and how we will address potential problems.
the difference between the two is that formative research is what you found out about a particular community and community engagement blue print of how you speak with these community.
we were looking for low risk areas and the CAB assisted in doing community mapping and identify areas were the low risk participants.
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As it is described, Formative research activities enables research teams to gain an informed understanding of local population, its socio- culture norms and practices,local perceptions, etc, this can only be achieved by identifying relevant stakeholders. Eg; CAB members and having meetings with them. It is in such arrangements that the above information could be obtained.
The formative research and community engagement seem to be alike in that the objectives are the same. getting informed.
Research teams and PIs and CAB members have had meetings before and during the trials, and CAB members have arranged meetings with identified community stakeholders and research teams. In such arrangements most conerns from both ends are addressed.
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I agree with Dr Terfa. Formative research and community engagement are linked, be it formal or inform. They both help you to plan for the trial.
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Stakeholder engagement is defined in the GPP document as, “…processes through which trial funders, sponsors, and implementers build transparent, meaningful, collaborative, and mutually beneficial relationships with interested or affected individuals, groups of individuals, or organizations, with the ultimate goal of shaping research collectively.” Formative research can be regarded as one form of community engagement (a subset). Of note, formative research would be one of the first steps in community engagement and lay the foundation for engagement and open and trusting relationships.
I cannot directly answer this question as I am not currently a staff member executing clinical trials. However, from a Sponsor perspective, one of the most important things to do is make sure those involved with trial development are aware of the importance of formative research and encourage and help facilitate this work.
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Formative research to some extend could be said to be a feasibility study and involve in several ways the element of community engagement especially the qualitative approach. Focus group discuss (FGD), In depth interviews, Key Information Interviews (KII-Interviewing people who are in position to know) and community mapping are formative research (qualitative) methods and at the same time community engagement strategies that yield quality information about study feasibility. Both are similar in so many ways and what differentiate both is the intention of the research team.
Our current effort (Ebola) was very sensitive in nature so community engagement and consultation was done as an informal formative research. Key informant interviews, stakeholders consultative meetings and focus group discussions yielded quality information for planning.
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other links could be trust and understanding- touching base with the community before..
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formative research is working with the community regarding the trials(briefing of information) before engagement is done.
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Formative research is like community mapping. You get as much information about the community, population number of people, needs analysis of the community based on the research you want to conduct within the community.
Community engagement is when you do certain activities to engage with the community. We have Public holiday events around the theme of the holiday and sometimes we team up with other organisations around the community to have great impact.
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that discussion with your CAB and other stakeholders will go a long way Erica. CAB will be of great help.
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Nokulunga,
I am in total agreement with you on getting it right with channel of communication. When you get it wrong, it becomes very challenging to move forward especially if ego is associated with people opposing the study.