Inside Implementation: REALISE Webinar Series, Episode-2

Inside Implementation: REALISE Webinar Series, Episode-2

Pre-registration is mandatory

Date

24th January 2025

Time

6:30 to 7:30 PM, IST

Where

Online on Zoom

 

Title: Panel Discussion on the Use of Implementation Research Methods.

Implementation Research (IR) methods are being increasingly used for evaluating public health interventions and to shape evidence-based policies. Join us for an engaging panel discussion with three renowned experts in the field of IR, Dr. Malabika Sarker, Dr. Brynne Gilmore, and Dr. Sonu Goel

The panel will delve into how IR methods have been successfully applied to address complex health and policy challenges and will highlight the unique strengths of IR in bridging the gap between research and real-world implementation. The panelists will share their experiences in applying IR frameworks across diverse contexts and discuss strategies for building research capacity for early career researchers. They will offer invaluable insights for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers alike.

Organised by Realist Evaluation Advancement Lab for Implementation Strategy Explanations, (REALISE)  Institute of Public Health Bengaluru.

Dr. Upendra Bhojani, Senior Fellow, Institute of Public Health Bengaluru. 

Speakers:

Dr. Malabika Sarker, Interim Chair and Professor of the Practice of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University 
Dr. Brynne Gilmore, Head of Subject for Health Systems and Assistant Professor (Ad Astra Fellow) UCD School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems University College Dublin
Dr. Sonu Goel, Professor of Health Management, School of Public Health, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, Director, e-Resource Centre for Tobacco Control

In Episode 1 of the ‘Inside Implementation: REALISE Webinar Series’, we hosted an engaging discussion on the use of Realist Methods with experts Dr. Bruno Marchal, Dr. Prashanth N. S and Dr. Sara Van Belle, moderated by Dr. Upendra Bhojani.

During this session, the speakers explored how realist research helps in navigating complexity and understanding causation. They shared insights on the merits and challenges of applying realist methods in Health Policy and Systems Research, along with recent methodological developments in the field. The conversation also highlighted how early-career researchers could engage with communities of practice to apply these techniques.

You can watch Episode 1 of this series on YouTube.

Inside Implementation: REALISE Webinar Series, Episode-1

Inside Implementation: REALISE Webinar Series, Episode-1

Date

15th October 2024

Time

4:00 to 5:00 PM, IST

Where

Online on Zoom

 

We’re thrilled to launch the Realist Evaluation Advancement Lab for Implementation Strategy Explanations (REALISE). Participate in this webinar where we will explore the power of realist methods in India and the region.

This episode features insights from experts:
They’ll engage in a thought-provoking conversation with Dr. Upendra Bhojani, diving deep into the impact of realist-driven research.
IPH Bengaluru team attend 6th NCTOH

IPH Bengaluru team attend 6th NCTOH

Faculty and staff from the Cluster on Chronic Health Conditions & Public Policy at the Institute of Public Health (IPH) Bengaluru attended the 6th National Conference on Tobacco or Health (NCTOH) organized by the International Institute of Health Management Research (IIHMR), Delhi. The conference witnessed participation from representatives of government agencies, academia, civil-society organizations, and individuals working on tobacco control and public health research.

Dr. Upendra Bhojani, Faculty IPH Bengaluru and DTB/Wellcome Trust India Alliance Senior Fellow presented a couple of paper and a poster in the conference. These presentations dealt with ‘gender and tobacco’ as well as findings from his DBT/Wellcome Trust India Alliance intermediate fellowship work: the “Deciphering Epidemic of Epic Proportion” (DEEP) project (2018-2023). Recognizing the unique approach and methods used in the DEEP project as well as the long-standing work in tobacco control, the conference organizers conferred a “champions award” to IPH Bengaluru for its significant contributions for tobacco control.

 Mr. Anand Kumar, a Research Officer at the IPH Bengaluru presented a paper based on the findings from the DEEP project that dealt with the role of tobacco businesses in public policy over time in Indian states. Dr. Lathadevi Chilgod of IPH Bengaluru presented about lessons from the Anusthana project – a DBT/Wellcome Trust India Alliance Early Career Fellowship awarded to Dr Pragati Hebbar (2018-2023) – about co-production of knowledge about tobacco control amongst diverse actors.  She also presented a poster based on the findings from the DEEP project on concerns of Indian parliamentarians about tobacco over 1990-2017 period.

 Dr. Ketki Shah, a doctoral student with the IPH Bengaluru and the Trans-Disciplinary University of Health Sciences and Technology presented a poster about an integrative review of literature about factors shaping livelihood choices of workers in tobacco sector.

The conference also featured an art exhibit “Tobacco & Society” featuring six pencil-on-paper drawings by Dr. Upendra Bhojani locating tobacco use within historical and socio-cultural contexts. The exhibit engaged several delegates on issues related to tobacco use and control and received appreciation.

IPH Bengaluru staff participated in several conference sessions and networked with delegates across various institutions and states. On the whole, they had a wonderful opportunity to learn, network and contribute to tobacco control through this conference. We acknowledge the DBT/Wellcome Trust India Alliance fellowships awarded to Dr Upendra Bhojani (No. IA/CPHS/22/1/506533) and Dr Pragati Hebbar (No. IA/CPHI/22/1/506537) for supporting travel and participation of IPH Bengaluru staff in this conference.

 

IPH faculty member Dr. Upendra Bhojani participated in ITM Colloquium in Katmandu, Nepal

IPH faculty member Dr. Upendra Bhojani participated in ITM Colloquium in Katmandu, Nepal

Dr. Upendra Bhojani, Faculty & DBT/Wellcome Trust India Alliance Senior fellow at the Institute of Public Health Bengaluru participated in the 64th ITM Colloquium 2023. The Colloquium, jointly organised by the Institute of Tropical Medicine (Antwerp) and the Nepal Health Research Council in Kathmandu (20-23 November 2023), focused on the theme of “Understanding the Global Landscape of Disease Burden in the Context of Climate Change”. Upendra presented on how tobacco impacts environment throughout its lifecycle (cultivation, curing, production, consumption, product waste) and how this signifies a wicked public policy problem requiring high-level inter-sectoral coordination.  On the first day, a meeting was organised of ITM alumni. Upendra (being a PhD alumnus 2010-2016) also participated in the meeting. Upendra also put up an art exhibit themed ‘Tobacco & Society’ comprising of six pencil-on-paper drawings with curated text locating tobacco within sociocultural and historical contexts. Upendra gave a talk as part of the ITM Alumni meeting using these drawings.

National Consultation on ‘Implementation of Tobacco Control Policies in India’

National Consultation on ‘Implementation of Tobacco Control Policies in India’

India has comprehensive tobacco control policies in place to address the growing problem of tobacco use, but their effectiveness differs among states due to diverse socio-economic, demographic, cultural, political, commercial, and geographical factors. Using a realist lens to understand what works, for whom and why in tobacco control, the Anushthana team at the Institute of Public Health Bengaluru (IPH) in association with the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union) organized a two-day national consultation on tobacco control policies at The Chancery Pavilion, Bangalore from 6-7 July, 2023.

The consultation brought together state-level government officials, public health experts, researchers, academicians, civil society organizations, and tobacco control advocates to design strategies to curb tobacco use and promote public health. On the first day, Shri Dinesh Gundu Rao, Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Govt of Karnataka, graced the occasion by unveiling a short documentary and a policy brief developed by the research team at IPH Bengaluru. The consultation had three panel discussions: 1) Sustainability and scale up of current good practices related to tobacco control policy implementation, 2) Policy recommendations, newer initiatives & State level COTPA amendments, and 3) Strategies to counter persisting challenges in implementing COTPA, NTCP and newer legislations, including a session on the political economy of tobacco by Dr. Upendra Bhojani and a group activity on recommendations for the updation of the COTPA Law enforcers manual.

Keeping in line with a focus on policy guided by implementers’ wisdom, one of the key strengths of the consultation was the panel discussions consisting of state nodal officers working in tobacco control, civil society members, academia, and the medical community of various Indian states who shared the context-specific facilitators and barriers they faced. The event provided a platform for participants to voice their opinions, concerns, and recommendations. The knowledge and insights gained from this consultation will be instrumental in shaping evidence-based policies and programs to reduce tobacco consumption and its associated health risks. It is now imperative to translate the ideas and recommendations generated at the consultation into tangible actions, forging a path towards a tobacco-free future.

Next steps

In order to sustain the consultation’s momentum and progress, the upcoming activities include sharing the recommendations from the consultation with the Ministry of Health, Government of Karnataka to operationalize them in the state, sharing the recommendations on updating law enforcement manual at the national level, sharing the documentary for training purposes, and submitting the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (PECA) guidelines to the Union Ministry for further action.

Regional Report on Tobacco Industry Interference in South Asia

Regional Report on Tobacco Industry Interference in South Asia

The tobacco epidemic continues today, claiming the lives of about 8 million people worldwide every year. Increasingly, interference by the tobacco industry has been known to hinder progress in tobacco control. Given the growing concerns with respect to tobacco industry interference (TII) in South Asia, the Institute of Public Health Bengaluru in collaboration with the International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union) launched a South Asia Public Health Fellowship in December last year. Through an 8-month fellowship period, seven fellows selected from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka curated four

country-specific case studies on how a transnational tobacco corporation like British American Tobacco (BAT) and its country affiliates interferes in tobacco control efforts in the region. Based on the country cases curated by the fellows, the project team prepared and published a regional report titled, “Interference by Big Tobacco and Affiliates in Tobacco Control in South Asia”. The regional report is available for download here.