Operations Research
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Learning objectives
1. Understand what OR is, and how it is similar to and different from other types of research. 2. Understand how OR can be used to help guide health system management decisions. 3. Understand the relationship between OR, quality improvement, monitoring and evaluation, and program evaluation. 4. Understand the basic steps of implementing an OR project. 5. Understand how program problems are identified. 6. Understand types of program problems that are, and are not, appropriate for. 7. Understand considerations involved in choosing the priorities for. 8. Understand the qualities of good solutions to OR problems, and how solutions problems can be generated. 9. Understand when exploratory studies can be used in. 10. Understand how to frame the program problem and solution into a research question. 11. Use acquired knowledge to define a program problem suited to OR, a program solution (if possible), and an OR research question. 12. Develop skills needed to successfully develop an OR study proposal. 13. Understand how quantitative research methodology can be use in exploratory and intervention studies i. 14. Understand common OR intervention study designs, and considerations for choosing among various study designs. 15. Understand special methodological considerations when conducting research within ongoing health programs. 16. Use acquired knowledge to develop a study design suited to your defined OR research question. 17. Understand what an indicator is, and considerations for choosing indicators in OR studies. 18. Understand various ways data can be collected. 19. Understand various sources of data that can be used for OR studies, and their respective strengths and weaknesses. 20. Use acquired knowledge to develop indicators and data sources suited to your defined OR research question and study design. 21. Understand the role of qualitative studies. 22. Understand basic methods used in qualitative research and for analyzing qualitative data. 23. Use acquired knowledge to develop an appropriate data analysis plan. 24. Understand the theory of quality improvement, and how it is similar to and differs from. 25. Understand how quality improvement can be used to improve health programs in Mozambique. 26. Use acquired knowledge to refine OR study proposals. 27. Review ethical considerations for any research project, and why these considerations are important when conducting research studies. 28. Review the history of ethical standards and review, for ensuring the ethical conduct of research projects. 29. Understand special ethics-related issues in OR studies and quality improvement projects. 30. Understand the process of institutional ethics review in Mozambique. 31. Use acquired knowledge to define the ethical considerations of study proposal, and develop a plan for ethical review. 32. Understand why policy is important in. 33. Understand considerations to improve OR’s relevance to, and acceptance by, policymakers. 34. Understand the relationship between the CIOB, the MOH, and UEM. 35. Understand the CIOB’s role to support OR-related research throughout Mozambique. 36. Use acquired knowledge to develop a study dissemination plan, budget and timeline. 37. Improve understanding of OR methodology by critically reviewing published OR studies. 38Understand how the results of OR studies can be disseminated and published in the medical and public health literature
Major topics covered
This overall aim of this course is to improve students’ understanding of operations research theory and methodology, and understand how this methodology can be applied to health systems in Mozambique.
Teaching formats
Classroom lectures, case studies, group projects, independent reading