U-CARE hosts workshop on public contribution in research in Tanzania
Guardians Advisory Board in Tanzania. Guardians of children who have been treated for cancer work as public contributors within the GuardiansCan project in Tanzania.
In mid-November, U-CARE’s Programme Director, Professor Louise von Essen, will host a workshop on public contribution in research in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The workshop will be organized in collaboration with Muhimbili National Hospital – Mloganzila, and Senior Assistant Lecturer Joanne Woodford will deliver the workshop. The workshop is aimed at strengthening local research skills and awareness of public contribution.
What is public contribution in research?
Public contribution in research means involving members of the public as active research partners. Patients, family members, informal caregivers, and members of the general public, work alongside researchers to shape key decisions in areas such as research design, priority-setting, analysis, and dissemination. Importantly, public contribution in research can enhance the acceptability, quality, relevance, and value of research. It can also empower public contributors themselves.
Building capacity for public contribution in research
The workshop is open to Tanzanian researchers and clinicians interested in incorporating public contribution into their own research. Participants will gain practical insights into effective methods and hear from PhD student Faraja Chiwanga as well as an advisory board consisting of guardians of children with cancer. The advisory board will share their experiences of working as public contributors on the GuardiansCan research project, for which Louise von Essen is principal investigator.
– Public contribution in Tanzania is in its infancy, explains Louise von Essen. By organizing this workshop, we aim to strengthen Tanzanian researchers’ capacity to embed public contribution in their research.
– This workshop will empower Tanzanian researchers to design and conduct research that is more acceptable, feasible, and relevant to the needs of local communities, says Joanne Woodford.