Optimising opportunities for capacity building within programme grants: the example of IMP2ART (IMPlementing IMProved Asthma self-management as RouTine)

Conference: 
SAPC ASM 2024 - Bristol
Talk Code: 
2D.4
Presenter: 
Stephanie JC Taylor
Co-authors: 
Hammersley Victoria, Delaney Bridgid, Kinley Emma, Korell Barbara, McClatchey Kirstie, Uzzaman Nazim, Sheringham Jessica, Steed Liz, Pinnock Hilary.
Author institutions: 
Queen Mary University of London; University of Edinburgh; University of Sheffield; University College London.

Problem

Increasing exposure to research for undergraduates and postgraduates may help build research capacity and this is particulary important in disciplines where academics (both clinicians and primary care scientists) are under represented, such as primary care.

Approach

Throughout our NIHR Programme Grant IMP2ART (IMPlementing IMProved Asthma self-management as RouTine) (NIHR PGfAR RP-PG-1016-20008) we have sought opportunities to align student projects with our research. Our aim being to optimise the opportunities offered by a programme grant to involve students and build interest and capacity in applied health service research in primary care.

Findings

Five years into the programme of work, a total of 22 students/trainees/registrars have been involved with, and contributed to, the IMP2ART research. This includes twelve undergraduates (BMedSci/BSc/medical students), two MPH students, three Academic Clinical Fellows, and an international visiting PhD student who have undertaken projects nested in the developmental work, analysed process evaluation data and undertaken qualitative work with patients. The students have presented eight abstracts (four at international conferences) and contributed to eight papers (three as first authors) on IMP2ART-related topics.In addition, three PhD studentships (funded by CSO/THIS/UoE) have explored supporting self-management in remote reviews, the role of facilitation, and asynchronous consulting. Between them the PhD students have, to date, presented 21 abstracts, and published three first author papers. We are supporting IMP2ART early career researchers to apply for the newly-launched NIHR ‘mid-programme development grants (PDGs)’ exploring social media interest on World Asthma Day to inform patient resources, and the challenges of reducing inequity in provision of supported self-management.

Consequences

Global health grants often include a budget for capacity building, enabling teams to allocate funded time for supervising student projects, developing on-line training modules to support future projects, or supervising on an aligned PhD student. This was rarely explicit within UK grants limiting the contribution specific research projects can make to capacity building. The newly launched NIHR PDGs are a welcome move towards an approach that embraces capacity building as the norm within research, as are other recent or forthcoming changes to NIHR Programme Grants and an increased recognition of capacity building across NIHR.

Submitted by: 
Steph Taylor
Funding acknowledgement: 
The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Programme Grants for Applied Research (Reference Number RP-PG-1016–20008). The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care.