The protocols were developed and refined in acknowledgement of the bespoke and context-specific nature of LMICs' settings, by a diverse and open community of 255 LMICs health researchers with a rich multi-disciplinary set-up, from a breadth of health fields and geographies. This presents a novel methodology that brings consensus, shared standards and quality, as well as a component to ensure population acceptability and applicability.
A protocol development tool, specifically designed as a simple but practical open-source web app, originally within the EDCTP Knowledge Hub's series of clinical study toolkits, was replicated by The Global health Network within the COVID-19 Implementation Hub to provide an additional mechanism for Working Group members to submit concept protocols for review and post feedback. Developed with low-bandwidth settings in mind, this feature enables all members from wherever they may be a mechanism to contribute directly to the protocols being developed.
This crowdsourcing protocol development process has helped to expedite time-critical, high-quality and widely applicable research studies that now need formal support to be implemented in LMICs, for LMICs and led by LMICs researchers.
This proposal is clearly linked to a relevant short-term policy change vision, and thus demonstrates how it will also contribute to a long-term improvement health outcome.
The core impact generated will be reflected in locally-driven research findings promoting relevant and practical evidence in LMICs that can be truly translated into recommendations and standard practice in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2 mixed-methods protocols will generate evidence for health systems strengthening where multiple ongoing infectious diseases and other co-morbidities compete within the health systems. Finally, the results of these protocols can trigger further implementation of these in other settings, given the open nature of the protocols developed.