Consultant Research Nurse Four (4)

for value stream Mapping (VSM) in Opt4TPT Implementation Research

KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation

KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation (KNCV) is one of the leading international non-profit organizations dedicated to fighting tuberculosis (TB) worldwide. We are an international center of expertise for TB control that stimulates effective, efficient, and sustainable tuberculosis control strategies in a national and international context. We are an organization of passionate TB professionals, including medical doctors, researchers, training experts, nurses, and epidemiologists.

Over the past century we have built a wealth of knowledge and expertise, initially by successfully driving back TB in the Netherlands, and subsequently by partnering in the fight against TB in over 40 countries worldwide.

We operate from a central office in The Hague in the Netherlands and additional country offices worldwide. KNCV raises funds from individual, institutional and corporate donors.

Background

TB preventive therapy (TPT), which involves giving anti-TB drugs to people with dormant TB infections, can reduce the risk of individuals developing active TB disease. Despite being recommended for PLHIV and household contacts of confirmed pulmonary TB patients, delivery and uptake of TPT have been slow and remain suboptimal globally. New innovations, such as a shorter regimen that combines two antibiotics—Isoniazid and Rifapentine—taken once a week for 12 weeks (known as 3HP), provide an opportunity to scale up TPT and are becoming available worldwide. Shorter regimens have potential advantages over the previous standard of care, Isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT), including once weekly dosing, as well as better adherence and completion. However, to effectively scale these new TPT regimens, it is critical that we understand the barriers and facilitators to implementation. Achieving global targets, including those set at the September 2018 UNHLM on TB, not only requires scaling up affordable and safe TPT regimens, but also collecting evidence to guide future implementation and policies.

The Opt4TPT study is a three-year programmatic assessment of TPT delivery across three countries, namely Ethiopia, South Africa and Zimbabwe, to generate critical knowledge to improve TPT uptake, implementation and outcomes. By following a cohort of PLHIV prospectively and directly observing service delivery in health facilities, Opt4TPT’s approach will provide valuable new knowledge regarding routine use of TPT, as well as outcomes during, and following TPT. This study will create an important understanding of TPT uptake and completion from the patient perspective and delivery from the health system perspective. These results will provide actionable information for improving service delivery and the scale-up of TPT. The project also assesses the cost of patients of taking TPT, seeking care for symptom of TB, as well as any TB related illness.

Purpose of the position and organizational position

As part of the implementation of Opt4TPT project in Ethiopia, we will conduct qualitative, quantitative, and health economic research to:

• Quantify the TPT continuum of care—from treatment initiation to completion—among PLHIV eligible for TPT and describe reasons for TPT refusal, discontinuation and completion, including patient perceptions, adverse events, drug tolerability, incident TB and death
• Conduct value stream mapping – identification of key system and provider characteristics, including models of care present in a clinic contributing to TPT prescribing, including clinic structures, clinician attitudes, and knowledge of and adherence to local TPT prescribing guideline
• Conduct cost-effectiveness analysis to compare different TPT delivery strategies

As a consultant research nurse of the value stream mapping (VSM), you are expected to actively engage in the implementation of TB prevention treatment study for HIV positive participants in the selected public healthcare settings in Addis Ababa especially on TPT prescribing process by observation of clinicians and other healthcare workers through documenting every aspect of TPT from inventory to delivery activities. 

Place in the organization

The consultant research nurse for VSM will report to the Project Coordinator.The consultant research nurse for VSM works closely with the Opt4TPT research team and clinic staffs at the selected study sites and other KNCV project teams.

Profile

As consultant research nurse of VSM, your activities will be to:

• Conduct structured non-participatory observations of patient-pathways in selected healthcare facilities
• Conduct semi-structured interviews with healthcare staff to describe service delivery in selected healthcare facilities
• Conduct audio-record of patient-provider interactions in selected healthcare facilities
• Assess ordering and management of the stock by reviewing pharmacy records in selected healthcare facilities
• Interview pharmacy managers to understand stock management and responsible in selected healthcare facilities
• Inspect the pharmacy storage of selected healthcare facilities on how the stocks are ordered, managed and dispensed
• Transform collected data into required formats for data analysis, including but not limited to capturing data in electronic databases, and development of process maps
• Perform data management procedures as outlined in the study protocol, including quality control procedures and resolution of data queries
• Ensure all participant records are accurately completed and filed with strict adherence to documentation handling procedures
• Maintain accurate study logs related to enrolment and other study activities
• Report on daily/weekly activities to the Study Coordinator and meet stipulated enrolment and follow-up targets
• Prepare participant files and documents
• Safe storage and transportation of complete study documents
• Attend study meetings to report on study progress
• Complete any other activities as required by the protocol or the study
• of and other study activities. 
• Safe storage and transportation of complete study documents
• Attend study meetings to report on study progress

What does KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation offer?

• A full time (40 hours) short term contract for 6 months with the possibility of renewal
• The consultancy fee is dependent upon education and relevant working experience

Duty station: Seven (7) health facilities in Addis Ababa Ethiopia

Job Requirements

Qualifications and experiences

• Bachelor’s degree in nursing and related field, MPH or related field   
• Experience in research at least 3 years
• Experience working with staff in public healthcare facilities is advantageous.
• Experiencing in collecting observation data is advantageous
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office, Research methods of both qualitative and quantitative study
• Experience/ Knowledge of HIV/TB diagnosis, treatment and care issues
• Training certificate on HIV care and treatment (recent/ in the past 3 years)
• Having a GCP course is an advantage
• Good communication skills
• Ability to solve practical problems
• Good management and interpersonal skills
• Good management and interpersonal skills
• Proficient in written and spoken English and fluency in local languages.
• Ability to work independently and in a team
• Ability to work under pressure
• Good numerical skills
• Able to pay close attention to detail

How to Apply

You can apply for this position by submitting your CV, and 3 professional references via the following email: kncvethiopia@gmail.com before December 8,2021. If you have any questions, feel free to contact our HRM Team: + 251116673801.

Please note that we only consider the applications that are received through the above mentioned email address only.

KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation is an equal opportunity employer offering employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, citizenship, physical or mental handicap, or status as a disabled person.