Implementation of the Assistive Product List (APL) in Malawi through development of appropriate policy and systems: an action research protocol
Introduction Assistive technology (AT) is important for the achievement of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) for persons with disabilities (PWD). Increasingly, studies suggest a significant gap between the need for and demand for and provisions of AT for PWD in low-income and middle-income se...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMJ Publishing Group
2020-11-01
|
| Series: | BMJ Open |
| Online Access: | https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/10/11/e040281.full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850267895305601024 |
|---|---|
| author | Ikenna D Ebuenyi Emma M Smith Malcolm MacLachlan Juba Kafumba Monica Z Jamali Alister Munthali |
| author_facet | Ikenna D Ebuenyi Emma M Smith Malcolm MacLachlan Juba Kafumba Monica Z Jamali Alister Munthali |
| author_sort | Ikenna D Ebuenyi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction Assistive technology (AT) is important for the achievement of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) for persons with disabilities (PWD). Increasingly, studies suggest a significant gap between the need for and demand for and provisions of AT for PWD in low-income and middle-income settings. Evidence from high income countries highlights the importance of robust AT policies to the achievement of the recommendations of the World Health Assembly on AT. In Malawi, there is no standalone AT policy. The objectives of the Assistive Product List Implementation Creating Enablement of inclusive SDGs (APPLICABLE) project, are to propose and facilitate the development of a framework for creating effective national AT policy and specify a system capable of implementing such policies in low-income countries such as Malawi.Method and analysis We propose an action research process with stakeholders in AT in Malawi. APPLICABLE will adopt an action research paradigm, through developing a shared research agenda with stakeholders and including users of AT. This involves the formation of an Action Research Group that will specify the priorities for practice—and policy-based evidence, in order to facilitate the development of contextually realistic and achievable policy aspirations on AT in Malawi and provide system strengthening recommendations that will ensure that the policy is implementable for their realisation. We will undertake an evaluation of this policy by measuring supply and support for specific AT prior to, and following the implementation of the policy recommendations.Ethics and dissemination The study protocol was approved by Maynooth University Research Ethics Committee (SRESC-2019-2378566) and University of Malawi Research Ethics Committee (P.01/20/10). Findings from the study will be disseminated by publication in peer-reviewed journals, presentations to stakeholders in Malawi, Ireland and international audiences at international conferences. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e11b6728890d4c0cba9c037ee25ba8c5 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2044-6055 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2020-11-01 |
| publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMJ Open |
| spelling | doaj-art-e11b6728890d4c0cba9c037ee25ba8c52025-08-20T01:53:36ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552020-11-01101110.1136/bmjopen-2020-040281Implementation of the Assistive Product List (APL) in Malawi through development of appropriate policy and systems: an action research protocolIkenna D Ebuenyi0Emma M Smith1Malcolm MacLachlan2Juba Kafumba3Monica Z Jamali4Alister Munthali5Assisting Living & Learning (ALL) Institute, Department of Psychology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, IrelandAssisting Living & Learning (ALL) Institute, Department of Psychology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, IrelandAssisting Living & Learning (ALL) Institute, Department of Psychology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, IrelandCentre for Social Research, University of Malawi, Zomba, MalawiCentre for Social Research, University of Malawi, Zomba, MalawiCentre for Social Research, University of Malawi, Zomba, MalawiIntroduction Assistive technology (AT) is important for the achievement of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) for persons with disabilities (PWD). Increasingly, studies suggest a significant gap between the need for and demand for and provisions of AT for PWD in low-income and middle-income settings. Evidence from high income countries highlights the importance of robust AT policies to the achievement of the recommendations of the World Health Assembly on AT. In Malawi, there is no standalone AT policy. The objectives of the Assistive Product List Implementation Creating Enablement of inclusive SDGs (APPLICABLE) project, are to propose and facilitate the development of a framework for creating effective national AT policy and specify a system capable of implementing such policies in low-income countries such as Malawi.Method and analysis We propose an action research process with stakeholders in AT in Malawi. APPLICABLE will adopt an action research paradigm, through developing a shared research agenda with stakeholders and including users of AT. This involves the formation of an Action Research Group that will specify the priorities for practice—and policy-based evidence, in order to facilitate the development of contextually realistic and achievable policy aspirations on AT in Malawi and provide system strengthening recommendations that will ensure that the policy is implementable for their realisation. We will undertake an evaluation of this policy by measuring supply and support for specific AT prior to, and following the implementation of the policy recommendations.Ethics and dissemination The study protocol was approved by Maynooth University Research Ethics Committee (SRESC-2019-2378566) and University of Malawi Research Ethics Committee (P.01/20/10). Findings from the study will be disseminated by publication in peer-reviewed journals, presentations to stakeholders in Malawi, Ireland and international audiences at international conferences.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/10/11/e040281.full |
| spellingShingle | Ikenna D Ebuenyi Emma M Smith Malcolm MacLachlan Juba Kafumba Monica Z Jamali Alister Munthali Implementation of the Assistive Product List (APL) in Malawi through development of appropriate policy and systems: an action research protocol BMJ Open |
| title | Implementation of the Assistive Product List (APL) in Malawi through development of appropriate policy and systems: an action research protocol |
| title_full | Implementation of the Assistive Product List (APL) in Malawi through development of appropriate policy and systems: an action research protocol |
| title_fullStr | Implementation of the Assistive Product List (APL) in Malawi through development of appropriate policy and systems: an action research protocol |
| title_full_unstemmed | Implementation of the Assistive Product List (APL) in Malawi through development of appropriate policy and systems: an action research protocol |
| title_short | Implementation of the Assistive Product List (APL) in Malawi through development of appropriate policy and systems: an action research protocol |
| title_sort | implementation of the assistive product list apl in malawi through development of appropriate policy and systems an action research protocol |
| url | https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/10/11/e040281.full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ikennadebuenyi implementationoftheassistiveproductlistaplinmalawithroughdevelopmentofappropriatepolicyandsystemsanactionresearchprotocol AT emmamsmith implementationoftheassistiveproductlistaplinmalawithroughdevelopmentofappropriatepolicyandsystemsanactionresearchprotocol AT malcolmmaclachlan implementationoftheassistiveproductlistaplinmalawithroughdevelopmentofappropriatepolicyandsystemsanactionresearchprotocol AT jubakafumba implementationoftheassistiveproductlistaplinmalawithroughdevelopmentofappropriatepolicyandsystemsanactionresearchprotocol AT monicazjamali implementationoftheassistiveproductlistaplinmalawithroughdevelopmentofappropriatepolicyandsystemsanactionresearchprotocol AT alistermunthali implementationoftheassistiveproductlistaplinmalawithroughdevelopmentofappropriatepolicyandsystemsanactionresearchprotocol |