Opportunistic Research in Rural Areas through Community Health Worker Training: A Cost-effective method of Researching Medication Misuse in Rural India

Background: In India it is estimated that one third of expenditure of households is spent on health related expenses, and medication purchases make up a large proportion of these costs. Objective: To investigate a novel methodology, which was cost effective, to collect large amounts of data to further understand medication purchases and misuse in rural India. Methods: This study explores the research approach that was conducted in 2012-13 by Layleaders enrolled in the Community Lay-Leaders’ Health Certificate Program initiative by Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore, India. Results: The methodology demonstrated a large data collection capacity, where 100 Layleaders participated and collected over 5000 surveys across 515 villages in North, Central and North East India. Conclusions: Incorporating opportunistic research methods into community health worker training can be a cost effective way to collect meaningful and useful data in rural India. This study demonstrates a successful methodology that may be transferable to other rural areas and others conducting research training as part of community health worker training should consider such opportunistic research