The SORT IT model for building operational research capacity: the experience of TB service providers in PNG

Papua New Guinea (PNG) has an estimated annual tuberculosis (TB) incidence rate of 432 per 100,000 population. There are major challenges for the provision of quality care to TB patients. In 2016, PNG had a TB case-fatality rate of over 10% and a treatment success rate of 64%. In addition, there are high numbers of multidrug- resistant TB reported from several ‘hotspots’. Research is a critical component of the World Health Organization’s End TB Strategy, including operational research. In 2017–2018, the first operational research capacity- building programme for TB was developed and implemented in PNG using the Structured Operational Research Training IniTiative (SORT IT) model. Twelve selected participants completed the course and published manuscripts in this supplementary edition of Public Health Action. The output from these research projects highlight important current operational issues for the TB programme and evaluated local innovations that informed policy and practice. Ongoing initiatives are needed to embed research as part of the response to critical public health issues such as TB