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Carolynn Jones
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Distance Learning Courses for Research Coordinators - In 2005, Dr. Lynda Harrison (now Dr. Lynda Wilson) received funding from the HIV Prevention Trials Network, a project funded by the U. S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), to offer a 4-credit course to 25 research coordinators at HPTN sites in 11 countries (including Zambia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Malawi, South Africa, China, Thailand, India, Peru, Brazil, and the U.S.). (HPTN, # 64 Subagreement to U01-AI-46749 (Subagreement 5-42). The course was very successful, and provided an excellent opportunity for research coordinators to form networks and links using internet chat and email connections.
One of the outcomes of this course was publication of articles about special issues related to research coordination in low-resource countries written by six of the students who participated in this course, along with an article written by the three course faculty about "Clinical Research in Low-Resource Countries" that was published in the November-December 2006 issue of the journal Research Practitioner:
Jones, C. T., Jester, P. M., Harrison, L. (2006). Clinical research in low resource countries. Research Practitioner, 7(6), 188-199.
Brahmi, A., Reid, C., Masse, B., & Kelly, C. (2006). Meeting retention challenges in Lusaka, Zambia. Research Practitioner, 7(6), 212-213.
Makuhunga, P. (2006). Dilemmas in motivating project staff and observing ethical considerations in recruitment and retention in Zimbabwe. Research Practitioner, 7(6), 214-215.
Daly, T. B. (2006). Impact of traditional healers in clinical research in Tanzania. Research Practitioner, 7(6), 216-217.
Pruenglampoo, B., & Ruangyuttikain, C. (2006). Thai clinical research coordinator's journey in HIVAIDS research. Research Practitioner, 7(6), 217-218.
Godbole, S., & Ghate, M. (2006). Issues in managing and coordinating clinical research in India. Research Practitioner, 7(6), 219-220.
Ferreira, F. G. F. (2006). Daily challenges in study coordination in Brazil. Research Practitioner, 7(6), 221-222.
From 2006-2008 these courses were offered to study coordinators in India, Mali, Uganda, and Zambia with funding from the NIH-supported program called International Centers for Excellence in Research (ICER) (award number U2RTW006246 from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the Fogarty International Center (PI, Eric Chamot); and from the UAB-affiliated Centers for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (CIDRZ). This project involved collaboration and strong support from Dr. Eric Chamot, Dr. Sibylle Kristensen, and Ms. Heather White from the UAB School of Public Health. In addition to the three research coordination courses, a 2-month distance-based course in teaching strategies was offered to prepare study coordinators to co-teach this course to others at their sites. Two of the students who enrolled in these courses had articles published that originated from work they conducted in these courses:
Kasozi, D. and Matovu, J.K.B. (2008). Challenges in maintaining community involvement in biomedical research: Experiences from Rakai Health Sciences Program, Rakai, Uganda. Research Practitioner, 9(4): pp. 129-134.
Mwale, S., Hachiboloma, B., and Stringer, J.S.A. (2009). Use of open public dramas for health education and research participant recruitment. Research Practitioner, 10(1): pp. 24-28.
Additional courses have been developed for offering as academic credit courses in the School of Nursing. All courses are distance-based courses, and students can use these courses as a component of an individually designed MSN degree. The courses currently offered are:
NUR 682Q/782Q Coordination and Implementation of Clinical Research Part I: Overview of Historical, Ethical and Cultural Issues in Clinical Research, Methods and Clinical Trials (3 hrs) Offered Spring Semester.
NUR 683Q/783Q Coordination and Implementation of Clinical Research Part II: Overview of Clinical Research Study Operations and Site Management (3 hrs) Offered Summer Semester.
NUR 684Q/784Q- An Overview of Teaching Principles for Clinical Research Coordinators and Healthcare Professionals (3 hr) Offered Fall Semester.
If interested in learning more about this course, or about additional courses for clinical research coordinators and managers, please contact Carolynn Jones at ctjones2216@charter.net or Dr. Marti Rice at schauf@uab.edu .