HERD International is conducting ‘Community – based Injury Survey with Burns Module – Pilot field test with the support of United Nations Foundation. The study will be conducted in 30 VDCs of Rasuwa and Nuwakot (4 VDC from Rasuwa and 26 from Nuwakot).

The objective of the study is to undertake a field test (pilot test) of the community-based injury survey with burn injury module in Nepal. This field test will conduct the injury survey using quantitative approach at an operational scale in a real-world context and generate pilot data.

Objectives of Burn and Injury Training

Overall objectives of the training were to develop the researchers’ skills for data collection of Burn and Injury training, 2016. The specific objectives of the training in respect to participants were:

• To provide clear understanding of Burn and Injury project and its objectives.
• To achieve a uniform understanding of the survey tool to be used for data collection.
• To provide the basic knowledge on use of Tablet for electronic data collection
• To have confident and well skilled researchers for data collection, upon the end of the training.

Brief on Training Execution

Training of Burn and Injury project was conducted by the team of HERD and HERD International in Kathmandu. The training continued for 4 complete days from 21st November to 25th Nov, 2016 (with 1 day gap on 24^th Nov), where full day session based training was given for 3 days and 1 day had been utilized for the purpose of field trial for researchers. A total of 21 participants were trained.

The approaches used for the training included formal theory sessions followed by question and answer sessions, mock interview followed by reflection and feedback, and field trial. After being trained in data collection procedure, the researchers practiced the skills they learnt in a real setting during the Field Trial at Kwara and Thapagaun villages located in Kritipur municipality of Kathmandu district. The main objectives of the field visit were to provide real setting exposure to the field researchers and to test and revise the data collection tool (Household questionnaire). During the field trial, each researcher recorded the information provided by respondents in the tablet provided by HERD International and sent their data to server from the field itself.

A detailed feedback session was done on the same day where the researchers shared their experiences of interview (tablet data collections) and whether they faced any difficulty. Based on the field trial experiences, some modification in the questions and their ordering in the tool were done.

Training outcome:

The outcomes of the 4 days training were in line with the training objectives. The Field Researchers gained theoretical and practical knowledge on quantitative research and use of tablet for electronic data collection. They were oriented on the data collection tool and consent forms to be used for the study. Keen observation of researchers’ way of conducting an interview during mock and field trial was done and constructive feedback were provided to researchers about their areas of strength and places where they could improve. Researchers’ performance and skill as a researcher were identified on the basis of their exposure on the subject matter, participation on the discussion during the training, and their level of knowledge on the subject matter compared to what they knew during the initial days of the training. As we had conducted the field trail, checked filled electronic questionnaires and observed the interviews, we found that the training session was successful in meeting the objectives, as the field researchers were able to collect the information competently after field trial session.

The researchers were trained and made ready to undertake field work in the 30 VDC of two districts Nuwakot and Rasuwa.