RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Strengthening the quality of paediatric primary care: protocol for the process evaluation of a health systems intervention in South Africa
JF BMJ Global Health
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP e000945
DO 10.1136/bmjgh-2018-000945
VO 3
IS Suppl 5
A1 Jamie Murdoch
A1 Robyn Curran
A1 Max Bachmann
A1 Eric Bateman
A1 Ruth Vania Cornick
A1 Tanya Doherty
A1 Sandra Claire Picken
A1 Makhosazana Lungile Simelane
A1 Lara Fairall
YR 2018
UL http://gh.bmj.com/content/3/Suppl_5/e000945.abstract
AB Background Despite significant reductions in mortality, preventable and treatable conditions remain the leading causes of death in children under five within South Africa. The WHO’s Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) programme has been widely implemented to address the most common causes of mortality in children under five. Although effective, limitations in IMCI scope and adherence have emerged. The Practical Approach to Care Kit (PACK) Child guide has been developed to expand on IMCI and address these limitations. It is intended as a clinical decision support tool for health workers with additional systems strengthening components, including active implementation and training strategy to address contextual and organisational factors hindering quality of care for children. Implementation is complex, requiring comprehensive pilot and process evaluation. The PACK Child pilot and feasibility study will sample 10 primary care facilities in the Western Cape Province. Staff will be trained to integrate the PACK Child guide into routine practice. The process evaluation will investigate implementation and health systems components to establish how to optimise delivery, strengthen IMCI principles and factors required to support effective and sustained uptake into everyday practice.Methods Mixed method process evaluation. Qualitative data include interviews with managers, staff, caregivers and policymakers; observations of training, consultations and clinic flow. Quantitative data include training logs and staff questionnaires. Quantitative and qualitative analysis will be integrated to describe study sites and develop explanations for implementation variation.Discussion The process evaluation will provide the opportunity to document implementation and refine the programme prior to a larger pragmatic trial or scale-up.