6 Effects were also similar in shorter versus longer programmes, programmes based on general practice versus hospital-based programmes and in programmes staffed by generalists versus specialists.
As a result, NGOs and PLHIV networks became actively involved during implementation and played an important role in guiding PLHIV to the programme and in supporting programme staff.
These included several occasions in which HAST programme staff in MDHS and City Health had worked well together in supporting service delivery implementation in the sub-district: in planning a joint campaign, in supporting training and in giving direct technical support to facilities across organizations.
Key lessons for moving this research endeavour through to policy and practice were the importance of placing operational research within the programme setting, defining relevant questions for programme and country staff, obtaining "buy-in" from national programme staff at the beginning of projects and having key actors or "policy entrepreneurs" to push forward the policy-making process.
Key lessons for moving this research endeavour through to policy and practice were the importance of placing operational research within the programme, defining relevant questions, obtaining "buy-in" from national programme staff at the beginning of projects and having key actors or "policy entrepreneurs" to push forward the policy-making process.
In a study of HIV prevention in truck drivers in Southern India, an intensive programme consisted of five repeated in-depth interactions with programme staff which demonstrated limited effectiveness [ 16].
Qualitative data were obtained from 25 in-depth interviews with programme staff from South Africa, Thailand and London.
It indicates that an integrated intensive large scale intervention can change beliefs and behavior towards safe sexual practices among long distance truckers whereas interventions among truckers that focused on five repeated in-depth interactions with programme staff has been reported to have limited effectiveness [ 36].
In empowerment evaluation, programme staff and participants are responsible for the programme and the evaluation, and the role of evaluator is shifted to that of a teacher, facilitator and coach.
These monthly attendance figures are entered in Excel by programme staff, and for this analysis were summed for each group of clusters to produce total attendance figures across the clusters in each month.
