This week, the Chronic Diseases Clinic of Ifakara (CDCI) at Ifakara Health Institute successfully conducted a training course for healthcare professionals, aimed at equipping them with essential knowledge and hands-on experience for conducting clinical research within routine healthcare settings.

The three-day course, titled "How to Conduct Clinical Research in Routine Care Settings," took place from October 2-4, 2024, at St. Francis Regional Referral Hospital (SFRH) in Ifakara. It was organized in collaboration with SFRH, Swiss TPH and University Hospital Basel.

20 health professionals benefit
Twenty healthcare professionals, working in clinical settings including clinicians, nurses and laboratory staff participated in a comprehensive program designed to equip them with the skills required to develop, design, and implement clinical research projects in everyday practice. Approved by the Medical Council of Tanzania (MCT), the course included lectures, practical group activities, and interactive sessions, providing participants with hands-on experience in various aspects of clinical research.

Key topics covered during the training included the history and purpose of clinical research, formulating research proposals from clinical questions, identifying relevant literature for the study, selecting the appropriate study design and methodology, as well as analyzing data, interpreting results, and discussing findings in the context of existing knowledge. The training also included practical sessions on how to execute each step within a team of researchers working in clinical settings.

The course was facilitated by a team of experts, including Dr. Andrew Katende, PD Dr. Med Martin Rohacek, Prof. Dr. Med Maja Weisser, and Dr. Ezekiel Luoga – all from Ifakara Health Institute and SFRH. Additional support was provided by Lulu Wilson, a statistician at the CDCI, James Okuma, a statistician affiliated with the SwissTPH, and Elizabeth Dotto, Jenifer Tarimo and Mohamed Mbaruku – also from CDCI.

Participants appreciate
After completing the intensive training, the participants commended the well-structured program, expressing appreciation for its interactive format and the practical knowledge they acquired.

The training concluded with closing remarks from the organizers, followed by the presentation of certificates of completion. This course enhanced healthcare professionals' clinical research skills and equipped them to conduct high-quality research, ultimately contributing to improved patient care.