| Funding agreed for Preliminary Phase of study Evaluating Outcome Indicators |
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Evidence for Action has agreed to fund the preliminary phase of the study Evaluating outcome indicators used to assess the performance of HIV programmes of treatment and care in resource-limited countries. The project will be led by MRC CTU, and involves collaboration with UCL, Lighthouse (Malawi), MRC UVRI (Uganda), NARI (India), International HIV/AIDS Alliance, and PPAI (Ukraine). This study will provide background information to support the development of a larger proposal for external funding.
BackgroundThere are no standardised evidenced-based outcome measures to evaluate the performance of facility-level ARV programmes within resource-limited countries. Donors recommend different data collection and calculation methods for outcome indicators to enable their programme to be monitored and evaluated. Wide variations exist between these recommendations. Not all seemingly important indicators are collected by all funders (e.g. deaths attributable to HIV), whilst other requested indicators are not useful as few facilities record such data (e.g. quality of life). Of note, no children-specific indicators are requested. The lack of standardisation between donors and programmes results in the collection and reporting of multiple outcome data by clinics, which is costly and time-consuming, making it difficult to compare performance within and between programmes. Identifying which outcome indicator(s) best predict long-term survival and the emergence of drug resistance would enable programme managers to respond to predictors of failure early. Aim
The main aim is to undertake the preparatory work necessary to establish the baseline site selection, data collection, methods of calculations and format so that once funding is secured we are in a good position to initiate data pooling immediately within countries. |