• ESSENCE on Health Research has prepared three “good practice documents” that provide an overview of RCB:
  • Planning, monitoring, and evaluation framework for capacity strengthening in health research (Revised in 2016)
  • Five keys to improving research costing in low- and middle-income countries (Revised in 2020)
  • Seven principles for strengthening research capacity in low- and middle-income countries: Simple ideas in a complex world (2014)

• Strengthening clinical research capacity in LMICs
  • The Academy of Medical Science and InterAcademy Partnership (IAP) for Health produced this 2:30 minute video which provides a brief overview of the topic and summarizes 7 key recommendations for RCB in LMICs. A detailed report of the workshop mentioned in this video, which was published by the United Kingdom-based Academy of Medical Sciences and IAP can be downloaded from this link.

• Franzen, S.R.P., Chandler, C., & Lang, T. (2017).Health research capacity development in low and middle-income countries: Reality or rhetoric? A systematic meta-narrative review of the qualitative literature. BMJ Open, 7, e012332

During this initial exploratory grant, our interdisciplinary, global team of investigators from Nepal and UVA:

• Co-created, conducted, and analyzed a comprehensive survey of palliative care/oncology nurses and physicians at four diverse cancer sites that assessed: a) knowledge, beliefs, and perceived barriers to cancer pain management at the individual, intrapersonal, institutional, and country/cultural levels; b) awareness and use of the NAPCare PMG; c) smartphone use and barriers; and d) desired features and outcome metrics for a NAPCare Pain Management Guidelines (PMG) mobile health (mHealth)  app.
• Built and iterated a beta version of the ‘NAPCare PMG mobile health app’ through extensive in-country fieldwork and remote virtual meetings and focus groups. Of note, our beta app focuses on adults with cancer. This was an intentional decision based on: 1) input from Nepal partners as to what would be most useful to healthcare providers; 2) the larger proportion of adults in Nepal with cancer compared to children; 3) the primary expertise of our clinical team and patient populations seen at our study sites; and 4) to be consistent with the scope of our exploratory work.
• Pilot tested the NAPCare PMG mobile app with oncology healthcare providers at four diverse cancer care centers using simulated patient case scenarios developed by the Nepal team and surveyed app users to assess acceptability and gather feedback for further app development.
• Engaged in research capacity building activities through in-person and virtual workshops and mentorship meetings that focused on: survey development, data collection, data analysis, mobile app design, and pilot testing, dissemination of findings, grant and project management, testing of beta versions of the mobile app, and the creation of our Virtual Library of open-access, web-based research resources relevant for investigators in low and middle-income countries

• Continue to revise, update and expand the Virtual Library.

• Secure funding support to continue to develop, disseminate and test the NAPCare PMG app.
• Continue research capacity support between UVA – Nepal team members through virtual mentorship.