DHIS2 Research forum

[Johan_Ivar_Saebo (Johan Ivar Sæbø)]

We are inviting you to an initial webinar to launch the DHIS2 research forum , an initiative to facilitate discussions and collaboration around research related to DHIS2. We do not yet know what the forum should be and as such invite all interested to discuss the way forward. From publications and sessions at conferences, it is evident that many conduct their research on or with DHIS2, implementations, data, work practices, and impact on public services. We think there is much to gain by having a place to share such research, discuss ideas or papers, share relevant references, call for papers, and more. We hope that the research forum can be a place to regularly showcase relevant research from the network, get in touch with like minded, and investigate opportunities for collaboration. Agenda:

• Why a research forum?
• Proposed format(s)
• Input and discussion

When and where:

• One (1) hour webinar, October 10th, 1-2pm CET
• Online, link to Zoom Meeting Registration - Zoom

[Mbevi (George)]

Registered. Looking forward to the event

[Mbevi (George)]

Hi Johan,

I always find this publication you did a few years ago very interesting.

Routine Use of DHIS2 Data: A Scoping Review

Routine use of DHIS2 data: a scoping review - BMC Health Services Research

Many thanks.

[Johan_Ivar_Saebo (Johan Ivar Sæbø)]

Thanks George! Hope we all can contribute to fill this knowledge gap!

[Johan_Ivar_Saebo (Johan Ivar Sæbø)]

Here is a summary of the first meeting for a DHIS2 Research Forum, held online Oct. 10 2024, with approx 20. participants globally. The agenda was for everyone to introduce themselves, and discuss potential format for the forum, including joint activities. Key activities discussed were

• Sharing information on various research collaborations in countries, for example through a survey. This could help get an overview of research activities with potential for collaboration
• Workshops on various topics, for instance related to the following next points;
• Sharing experiences and assist each other on applying for access to data. Ministries typically own the data, and to apply for data access can be a difficult process, especially for students and young researchers
• Collaborate on a special issue in a journal. There could be many different topics and outlets to consider. One example could be case study collections, for instance to follow up on the general lack of documented local data use. Wide contributions, also from non-academics, could be a suitable goal for workshops for the forum.
• Expanded space for research in the next DHIS2 Annual Conference, for instance sessions to present research, or on data analysis, etc

I propose the following next step;

• Whether or not you participated in the webinar, respond below with a quick intro on who you are, what you do in relation to research, and share comments or suggestions.
• Also please add potential outlets where we could propose a special issue, on potential topics etc. Several journals accept proposals for collections;
  Collections | BMC Health Services Research (biomedcentral.com)
  JoGH Collections — JOGH

Thanks to all who participated!

[Johan_Ivar_Saebo (Johan Ivar Sæbø)]

I’m Johan Sæbø, associate professor at University of Oslo. I’m coming from the field of Information Systems, mainly publishing on the development, implementation, and governance of DHIS2 in country information systems. I’ve also published in health journals and participate in several interdisciplinary projects in that regard. I’ve earlier linked to some more research we do here in Oslo, please look at the post linked in below.

Research forum?

At the University of Oslo we do a wide range of research on health information systems, typically from an information systems perspective (i.e. with a focus on the interplay between technology and organization, complexities of design, implementation, and use, etc). We post our publications here: Research Library - Department of Informatics (uio.no) There you can find links and usually full documents of all Master and PhD theses, journal and conference publications, and books. Most of this is r…

[bhansen (Blake)]

Hi! I’m Blake Hansen, Senior Implementation Manager at BAO Systems and part-time DrPH student at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. I’ve been helping implement information systems for a decade now, and that’s directed my research to areas of how data actually gets used once these systems are in place. As an early researcher, I haven’t published yet but am just wrapping up a current piece on data-use facilitators and barriers during implementation processes, and need lots of encouragement to find time to formally publish it I didn’t make the session but I’d be very interested in encouraging the activities outlined. Well done pulling this together!

[Norah_Stoops]

Hello/Bon jour. I am Norah Stoops, working with HISP South Africa since 1998 when routine aggregated primary health care information systems, and DHIS (both systems and software) was introduced. I have no research credentials, but love the academic discourse around research in HIS. Count me in!

[kgrepin (Karen)]

I am an editor at SSM: Health Systems and they also accept special issues. If that would be of interest, we could try that. I also know that David Hotchkiss, a big supporter of DHIS2/RHIS, is an editor at BMC Health Services Research. We could reach out to him as well.

[Matthieu (Matthieu Pinard)]

Thanks @Johan_Ivar_Saebo!

Bonjour! I’m Matthieu Pinard. I’ve been working for HISP UiO/HISP Centre for the more than a decade with capacity development and more specifically with the DHIS2 Academy then the DHIS2 Online Academy. I am also a part-time, and early stage, PhD student, still defining the phenomenon I’m studying around higher education initiatives to develop capacities in HIS.

[Johan_Ivar_Saebo (Johan Ivar Sæbø)]

Hi, there is a relevant call for papers out in the BMC Digital Health.
Call for papers - Digital health initiatives in resource limited settings