Optimising the preparation of a site visit for a Multi-Country research study: A strategic approach

Research question: How to optimise a site visit for the conduct of a multi-country intervention development study? Background: Site visits are crucial in a multi-country study as they provide opportunities to learn more about the context contributing to the design, execution and dissemination of the research work. The Adapting school-based Asthma Programme: a mulTicountry (AdAPT) study aims to adapt a multi-level intervention developed in Malaysia to other low- and middle-income countries. It will be conducted in Bangladesh, Pakistan, India and Indonesia, and will be co-designed by respective local researchers from each country. Figure 1 illustrates the phases of the AdAPT study. A site visit to a tribal area in India is planned to gain better understanding of the context, to aid the adaptation of the intervention. Methodology: We discussed and planned activities for the upcoming site visit with the host researcher. A one-week itinerary of activities is planned that include visiting tribal institutions, healthcare centres, and schools in the community and tribal villages. The agenda will involve an active community stakeholder engagement event and conducting a qualitative workshop for the local research team. We will take note of the challenges and enablers of conducting the study through observation and discussions with stakeholders. The insights gained from the site visits will contribute to the analysis of the qualitative study in Phase 1, and will inform Phases 2 and 3 of the study. These findings will be shared with other countries involved in the AdAPT study. This collaborative exchange of findings will significantly contribute to the effectiveness of the multi-country research initiative. Questions to discuss: • How do you optimise planning for the site visits? • How do you reduce language barrier during the site visits? • How best to disseminate the findings to other countries in the study?