Riders for Healths demonstration of effectiveness and efficiency of contracting out vehicle fleet management for health delivery
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN61288446 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN61288446 |
| Secondary identifying numbers | N/A |
- Submission date
- 16/11/2011
- Registration date
- 05/12/2011
- Last edited
- 18/01/2012
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Other
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims?
Stanford University is conducting a research study in Zambia's Southern Province to evaluate how well contracting the management of Ministry of Health vehicles and motorcycles to the NGO Riders for Health will work. The goal of the study is to assess the impact that reliable transportation can have on health, and the cost-effectiveness of such transportation. The learnings of this study can inform health officials, global health policy makers and funders about the costs and ultimate health benefits of investing in reliable transportation.
Who can participate?
This study does not directly involve human subjects/participants. Our target population is motorcycles and vehicles used for health delivery.
What does the study involve?
Eight districts in the Southern Province of Zambia are included in the study. Districts are randomly assigned as follows: four districts are experimental groups that are receiving an intervention (i.e., receive the Riders program), and four districts are control groups. The Riders intervention in the four experimental districts will be the "Transport Asset Management (TAM)" program. These districts receive vehicles and motorcycles as well as maintenance and repair services.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
There are no risks to participants as the study does not involve patients but health technicians and transport managers.
Where is the study run from?
The study is run by the Socially and Environmentally Supply Chains Program at Stanford University's Global Supply Chain Management Forum, which is based at the University's Graduate School of Business.
When did the study start and how long is it expected to run for?
Baseline data collection began on August 1, 2011 and the study is expected to continue through summer 2013.
Who is funding the study?
The study is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle, WA, USA.
Who is the main contact?
Sonali Rammohan
rammohan_sonali@gsb.stanford.edu
Contact information
Scientific
Stanford University
655 Knight Way
Stanford
94305
United States of America
Study information
| Study design | Randomised controlled study |
|---|---|
| Primary study design | Interventional |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Study setting(s) | Other |
| Study type | Quality of life |
| Scientific title | Riders for Healths demonstration of effectiveness and efficiency of contracting out vehicle fleet management for health delivery: a randomised controlled study |
| Study objectives | 1. To what extent do Riders for Health's models result in improved vehicle fleet management? 2. To what extent does improved vehicle fleet management result in improved health worker productivity? 3. To what extent does improved health worker productivity from improved vehicle fleet management result in equitable coverage of critical health interventions? |
| Ethics approval(s) | 1. University of Zambia Biomedical Research Ethics Committee approved on November 4, 2010 2. Stanford University Research Compliance Office approved on August 31, 2010 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Health delivery by Zambia Ministry of Health's Environmental Health Technicians (EHTs) |
| Intervention | Eight districts in the Southern Province of Zambia are included in the study. Districts were randomly assigned as follows: four districts are experimental groups that are receiving an intervention (i.e., receive the Riders program), and four districts are control groups. The Riders intervention in the four experimental districts will be the "Transport Asset Management (TAM)" program. These districts receive vehicles and motorcycles as well as maintenance and repair services. Data collection officers interview 120 Environmental Health Technicians (EHTs) in the four experimental districts and four control districts each week. Data collection officers also collect raw data for analysis including health treatment tally sheets, vehicle logs, immunization records, and more from health centers and district health offices. |
| Intervention type | Other |
| Primary outcome measure | Environmental Health Technician productivity and health intervention coverage rates |
| Secondary outcome measures | No secondary outcome measures |
| Overall study start date | 01/08/2011 |
| Completion date | 01/08/2013 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Sex | Both |
| Target number of participants | 120 Environmental Health Technicians (EHTs) and eight transport managers. In addition, we are tracking the daily movement of 100 Ministry of Health vehicles and motorcycles utilizing GPS technology |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Environmental Health Technicians (EHTs) employed by Zambia's Ministry of Health. EHTs are assigned to both district health offices and urban and rural health centers 2. District health office transport managers employed by Zambia's Ministry of Health This study does not directly involve human subjects/participants. Our target population is motorcycles and ambulances used for health delivery. We will not be measuring anything on human beings. The only (potential) human subjects issue is that we are collecting health worker activity sheets which include information about what health interventions have been delivered. |
| Key exclusion criteria | Does not meet inclusion criteria |
| Date of first enrolment | 01/08/2011 |
| Date of final enrolment | 01/08/2013 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- United States of America
- Zambia
Study participating centre
94305
United States of America
Sponsor information
Charity
The Drummonds
Spring Hill
Pitsford
Northampton
NN6 9AA
United Kingdom
Funders
Funder type
Charity
No information available
Results and Publications
| Intention to publish date | |
|---|---|
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | No |
| IPD sharing plan summary | Not provided at time of registration |
| Publication and dissemination plan | Not provided at time of registration |
| IPD sharing plan |
