Table 3 Leadership hub model—standard intervention elements for development and implementation activities

Intervention development activities

• Training sessions about leadership hubs delivered to country research staff.

• Specific training topics and objectives identified by research team in consultation with leadership hub members.

• Training materials prepared for interactive workshops. These were developed and/or adapted from training materials from other sources, by research team members with expertise pertinent to topic.

• Some workshop materials piloted with research assistants of project.

• Format for hub action plan reporting developed by research team members.

• Requirements and guidance document for developing and implementing evaluation projects developed by research team members.

• Objectives, format and processes for sharing and discussing quantitative and qualitative findings from research developed by research team and research assistants.

• Format for newsletter developed by research assistant in consultation with hub members.

• Format for district level communique and international newsletter developed by research team members in consultation with hub members who advised on what findings would be most pertinent to their managers.

Intervention implementation activities

• Leadership hubs established in three intervention districts in each of four LMIC countries.

• Slate of seven core training workshops delivered to hubs over 3 years to build capacity in research, policy engagement and leadership.

• Regular, ongoing mentoring of hubs (via telephone, field visits and joint hub meetings) provided by country research staff regarding development and implementation of action plans and evaluation projects.

• Research findings shared with hubs to stimulate critical reflection and action using project data from study districts. Quantitative research findings shared included stigma, and nursing clinical practices and policies related to HIV care. Qualitative research findings shared focused on the impact of HIV on nursing workforce.

• Three project communiques, produced for hubs, presented country-specific research findings on common topics (nursing clinical practices and policies, and HIV-related stigma).

• Eight issues of an international hub newsletter produced for hubs (documented project research findings, hub evaluation project results, profiles of hubs) to encourage sharing and exchange among hubs.

• District health action plans created by each hub addressed gaps identified through research findings.

• Evaluation projects (funded through small grants from our research programme) were written, peer reviewed, revised and implemented; findings were analysed (with assistance of research assistants) and disseminated to stakeholders by all active hubs.

• Hubs participated in professional exchange visits (e.g. meetings with national and international agencies involved in HIV; exchange visits between hubs in two countries; participation in international hub teleconferences to discuss nursing strategies).

• Leaders of all active hubs participated in and presented findings from study at an international conference (World Congress on Public Health held in Ethiopia).