Settings: Partners In Health Rwanda, in collaboration
with the Ministry of Health, leads a multipronged approach
to develop research capacity among health workers,
particularly in rural areas.
Objectives: To describe the characteristics of participants
and to assess the impact of an introductory research seminar
series in three district hospitals in rural Rwanda.
Design: This was a retrospective cohort study of seminar
participants. Data were sourced from personnel records,
assessment sheets and feedback forms.
Results: A total of 126 participants, including 70 (56%)
clinical and 56 (44%) non-clinical staff, attended the research
seminar series; 61 (48%) received certification.
Among those certified, the median assessment score on
assignments was 79%. Participants read significantly
more articles at 6 and 12 months (median 2 and 4 respectively,
compared to 1 at baseline, P  0.01). There
was also a significant increase (P  0.05) in self-reported
involvement in research studies (28%, baseline; 59%, 12
months) and attendance at other research training (36%,
baseline; 65%, 12 months).
Conclusion: The introductory research seminar series
provided an important opportunity for engagement in
research among clinical and non-clinical staff. Such an activity
is a key component of a comprehensive research capacity
building programme at rural sites, and serves as an
entry point for more advanced research training.