By Tommy Esau, Research Worker
A four-day research workshop, ‘Getting Started in Research’ was held last week (3-6 August) at Atoifi Adventist Hospital. It was facilitated by Mr Humpress Harrington, Mrs Rowena Asugeni and Mr Alwin Muse, health research group leaders from Solomon Islands. In addition, Mr Lester Asugeni, Senior Lecturer from Pacific Adventist University in PNG also helped facilitate the workshop. Senior public health researchers from Australia, Professor Rick Speare and Associate Professor Peter Massey travelled to Atoifi to support the workshop. The research workshop was described by Professor Speare as a ‘significant direction’ because this was the first research workshop wholly run by Atoifi based researchers. The workshop was a demonstration of the successful research capacity strengthening that has been ongoing since the first research workshop in 2009.
Ninety participants including health professionals, teachers, community leaders and chiefs attended the ‘Getting Started in Research’ workshop. The workshop sessions were presented twice each day: once in the morning (mostly in Pijin) and once at night (both Pijin and English). Practical sessions were held in the afternoons where research leaders shared their experiences in research, as well as leading out in group discussions. Practical sessions were helpful as participants utilised the knowledge they had gained about identifying research topics, writing aims and smart objectives, reviewing literature and writing a research proposal.
The research projects planned in the afternoon sessions included nine proposals from the 3rd year Nursing students of Pacific Adventist University (Atoifi Campus) and five proposals from Probationer nurses. The research topics related to health issues that are directly relevant to Atoifi Adventist Hospital and surrounding communities.
Health research was first introduced by James Cook University (JCU) researchers at Atoifi in 2009. One of the aims was to strengthen research capacity by conducting health research in Solomon Islands to enable a Pacific Islands approach to understanding health issues affecting Pacific Islands communities. “The research work in Atoifi hospital has been developing significantly,” stated Professor Rick Speare in his speech during the presentation evening. “The increasing numbers of participants interested in doing research, the involvement of Pacific Adventist University, and local researchers from the Solomons taking the lead in delivering presentations all indicate a positive direction.”
Mr Leon Manehoua, Tuberculosis nurse from Kilufi Hospital, also attended the workshop. Mr Manehoua said,”It was a blessing for me attending this research workshop”. Many participants who attended the research workshops revealed that they learned a lot and have been actively involved. This interest has built upon the previous research workshops. There is a lot of positive feedback, from the participants and, as demonstrated in the evaluations, participants are looking forward for another research workshop in the near future. For now there are at least 14 new research projects to get started!
For more information about the Atoifi Research Group, please visit: www.atoifiresearch.org.sb/group or email humpress.harrington@gmail.com
