Work scope

This study will identify the concept of family resilience as understood by Indian community health workers of Kerala. The long-term goal is to use the new concept to develop a culturally relevant tool to assess families with children under 6yrs using an online tool Group Concept Mapping (GCM). GCM is a fully integrated mixed model design which incorporates qualitative and quantitative types of data collection (Tashakkori and Teddlie, 2003). The two types of data will be converted and analysed in a four-step process (Kane and Trochim, 2007). We will use it to develop a conceptual framework of the research topic through a systematic structured process. Targeted participants are community health workers( ASHA) who work in the community rural and urban Kerala. A selection of staff from these areas will give a wide spread of sample population. One of the USW, UK researchers (Anitha Livingstone) will be present in Kerala during the data collection process and will do a paper-based data collection method. Kerala participants will be invited to three controlled exercises of GroupWisdomTM GCM software on paper format in English. Exercise 1 (brainstorming) takes approximately 20 minutes to complete. Exercises 2 (sorting) and 3 (Rating) take 30-40 minutes each. Exercises 2 and 3 are often conducted together to maximise participation and minimise participant burden.

Goals:

To develop the concept of family resilience among Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) in Kerala

Objectives:

1.To carry out a three step Group Concept Mapping method (brainstorming,

sorting and rating)

2. To analyse the data and identify the concept of family resilience in partnership.

3.To build on the existing relationship and take forward the program of research on family resilience with Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) in Kerala.

Premises

 This study will be conducted using a blended approach where face to face and online methods of meetings and data collection will be used. Recruitment of participants will be done after obtaining consent from Authorities; this will be followed by 2 face to face workshops on site in PIMSRC, Kerala. Anitha (CI)& other 4 faculty will be travelling to Kerala to conduct this along with the Kerala - Team. Consecutive meetings with stakeholders will take place online vis teams.

Specialist Equipment- GroupWisdomTM software (funded by University of South

Wales)

Time required for ASHA  [1 x 20-minute brainstorming, 2 x 30-40 minute rating exercises]

Stakeholders time for steering group [10 x 1-2 hours]

Research team time

This study requires participation at two separate time points and participant email addresses will be retained only if they are participating using online GroupWisdomTM software. This is so that participants can receive the executive summary of the project towards the end of the project. These will be stored for the GroupWisdomTM software but will not be linked to the participant data. The server for the GroupWisdomTM website is in a locked facility with restricted access. The GroupWisdomTM platform is securely hosted by Amazon Web Services (AWS) in Frankfurt, Germany. Only the approved AWS has physical access to the server. Other data will be stores separately in a USW server password-protected folder. Access to participant information will only be permitted to authorised personnel.

Reporting

This collaborative project although led by USW will be collaborative in that all decisions made during development of the concept will be made during stakeholder meetings conducted online via teams between USW and Kerala. There are no other funding bodies involved at this point. There will be a minimum of 10 meetings from the start to completion of the project at various points as laid out in the first section.

Project management

The lead PI for the project will be Carolyn Wallace (USW), and Anitha Livingstone (Coinvestigator) will act as cultural lead for the project. David Pontin and Michelle Thomas are co-investigators from USW who will be involved in the project.

This stakeholder group will be responsible for developing the concept of Family Resilience in South India. A minimum of 10 stakeholder meetings via teams will be required during the process of developing the concept. Anitha will play a primary role in launching all four stages with the supervision and support of Prof. Wallace and Prof. Pontin.

Dissemination

Joint Publication – funder report; publications in international journals and India specific journals for public health, nursing, community health, health service organisation.

Conference presentations – at international conferences, conferences in India and UK.

Dissemination - through International Family Resilience Network; workshops and training events