5 survey

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Attachment 5: Focus Group Discussion Guide for Trainees

OMB #: 0925-xxxx

Expiration Date: xx/xxxx

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Before we start, I would like to remind you that there are no right or wrong answers in

this discussion. We are interested in knowing what each of you think, so please feel free

to be frank and to share your point of view, regardless of whether you agree or disagree

with what you hear. It is very important that we hear all your opinions.

You probably prefer that your comments not be repeated to people outside of this group.

Please treat others in the group as you want to be treated by not telling anyone about

what you hear in this discussion today.

Let's start by going around the circle and having each person introduce himself or herself and tell us how long ago you did FIC training, what partner organization your training was associated with, what degree you earned through it, and how many years you have been at this University.

(Members of the research team should also introduce themselves and describe each of

their roles.)

1. FIC experience

What were the strengths and weaknesses of your FIC experience?

Possible Probes

• mentorship, organizational support, networking, structure of FIC training program

2. Organizational Capacity & Performance

I would like to turn now to the question of how FIC support to training at this University has affected the overall capacity of this University. So we are not interested in how the training contributed to your individual skills or your research portfolio, but rather how FIC support may have impacted the University’s ability to secure research funding, develop its own teaching, or conduct scientific research etc?

Possible Probes

• What effect, if any, did FIC have on your University’s ability to secure research funding?

• What effect, if any, has the FIC partnership had on the University’s teaching capacity, such as curricula development, recognition of leadership in teaching?

• Has FIC contributed to the development of a critical mass of scientists at your University?

3. Relative contribution of FIC versus other players

Presumably there have been several other funders and partners that have contributed to capacity development at this University. How significant a player do you think FIC has been in terms of supporting the development of scientific capacity here compared to other actors?

Possible probes

• Who are the other actors?

• What have they contributed?

• Has the long time frame over which FIC has contributed made a difference?

• Has there been anything particularly unique or valuable about FIC’s contribution?

4. Intervening Factors/Obstacles

In your view what are the main constraints to further strengthening health research capacity at this organization, and do you think these are issues that Fogarty or similar programs can or should address?

5. Network Capacity & Performance

To what extent do you think that there is a professional network that has emerged around those involved with the Fogarty training program, for example do you find that you have regular interactions with other FIC trainees, or researchers at the US parent organization?

6. Research to policy

What impacts, do you think your collective research has had upon health policy development and health care practice in this country, and more broadly upon the health of the population?

Possible probes

• Are there any specific examples you can cite of how your research has made a difference?

• What opportunities have you had to ensure your research results reach policy and program audiences?

• How has FIC training prepared you to engage in dialogue with research users; to disseminate your research findings; to become engaged in the policy process?