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Partnering for Change and London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

Partnering for Change set out to understand the complex challenge of non-communicable disease (NCD) care in humanitarian settings, partnering with the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) as its lead academic partner. Several scientific articles on the research conducted are now published. A programme of research has been conducted since 2018 to better understand and improve the management of people with NCDs in humanitarian settings. LSHTM, Partnering for Change operational partners (International Committee of the Red Cross, Danish Red Cross, Lebanon Red Cross and Iraq Red Crescent) and local academic institutions collaborate on global- and country-level studies. Several scientific articles have been published and their findings have fed into the design of new NCD programmes and evaluations. 

The LSHTM team is integral to the partnership, documenting the existing context and interventions with the operational partners, and working with them to develop interventions that are based on independent scientific evidence. LSHTM is assisting with needs assessment, intervention design, as well as project monitoring and evaluation. LSHTM ensures that all interventions and recommendations are evidence-based and Partnering for Change strives to translate research into action and measurable impact. On the ground, LSHTM works with different local academic institutions to conduct its research activities at the various study sites. Thus far, the Hawler Medical University and team of independent research consultants have been collabarating as local academic partners in Lebanon and Iraq, respectively. 

 

Read the research

Models of care for patients with hypertension and diabetes in humanitarian crises

Chronic NCD care in crises

“Our use of a model of care conceptual framework allowed the comparison of studies from diverse regions and crises and may prove useful to guide further research and evaluation and programme design.”

Jaung et al. Models of care for patients with hypertension and diabetes in humanitarian crises: a systematic review. Health Policy Plan. 2021.

“Comprehensive guidance would foster standardization, continuity, integration and, thus, better quality care. Future models should take a health system strengthening approach, use patient-centred design, and should be co-created with patients and providers. Those designing new models may draw on lessons learned from existing chronic care models in high- and low-income settings.”2

Ansbro et al. Chronic NCD care in crises: A qualitative study of global experts’ perspectives on models of care for hypertension and diabetes in humanitarian settings. Journal of migration and health. 2022.

The issue brief series

The scientific articles have been published in peer review journals and each is accompanied by an easy-to-read introductory paper – an Issue Brief. So far, four papers have been published and around ten more are expected by the end of the partnership. The research includes  literature reviews, interviews with global experts and in-country case studies.  

Key topics raised by these publications include issues related to current models of care for hypertension and diabetes in humanitarian settings (including access) and patient as well healthcare providers’ perspectives on health system responses. These publications permeate and inform the work done by Partnering for Change and are freely available, providing guidance to other actors in the field and enabling further research.  

Based on these initial research findings, two implementation research projects are currently being conducted in Lebanon: the first one, led by the International Committee of the Red Cross, evaluates an “integrated model of NCD care”, integrating mental health, rehabilitation and primary health care for people living with NCDs, and the second, led by Danish Red Cross and the Lebanese Red Cross, is evaluating a peer support strategy for people living with NCDs. These two studies will be the first of their kind in humanitarian settings and the results are expected by mid-2024. 

Read the issue briefs

Issue Brief 01

Issue Brief 02

  1.  Jaung MS, Willis R, Sharma P, et al. Models of care for patients with hypertension and diabetes in humanitarian crises: a systematic review. Health Policy Plan. 2021;36(4):509-532.

  2. Ansbro É, Issa R, Willis R, Blanchet K, Perel P, Roberts B. Chronic NCD care in crises: A qualitative study of global experts’ perspectives on models of care for hypertension and diabetes in humanitarian settings. Journal of migration and health. 2022;5:100094.