Table 2 Comparing the QRNs
Domain | STAR | REACHOUT |
|---|---|---|
Disciplinary focus | Both are interdisciplinary involving social science, anthropology, economics and health systems, and other stakeholders including policymakers and those involved with implementing interventions | |
Health area scope and focus | Focused on HIV self-testing, introduction of a new approach and technology; increasing coverage is priority. | Flexibility on topic of focus (maternal, neonatal and child health, tuberculosis, abortion) and cross cutting issues (e.g. motivation, supervision, quality improvement), under the umbrella of close-to-community provision; improving quality is priority. |
Contexts involved | More homogeneous contexts of South/East Africa and a common implementer in Population Services International (PSI) marketing strategy and training curricula. | Works with multiple actors (government, NGO etc.) and across a wider geography with both African and Asian partners and contexts. |
Role of the QRN in the consortium | Overall study design is a series of cluster randomised trials informed and explained by the QRN’s work. | Holistic health systems framing driven by the QRN. |
Non-researchers in the QRN | Both have many actors (such as policy makers; HIVST distributors; frontline health workers, and clients) to interact with during research process. | |
Meeting modality | Both conduct regular periodic face-to-face consortium meetings and teleconferences to allow for exchanges and to facilitate analytical discussion across different contexts. | |