TY - JOUR

T1 - Exploring fidelity of enactment in a cluster randomised controlled trial testing the effectiveness of 'gatekeeper' training for pesticide vendors in reducing self-poisoning in rural Sri Lanka

T2 - protocol for a multimethod qualitative study

AU - Kanapathy, Rajaratnam

AU - Agampodi, Thilini

AU - Eddleston, Michael

AU - Konradsen, Flemming

AU - Pearson, Melissa

AU - Sanjula, Bimali

AU - Malalasekara, Charuni

AU - Naseer, Nasman

AU - Agampodi, Suneth

AU - Weerasinghe, Manjula

N1 - © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.

PY - 2024

Y1 - 2024

N2 - INTRODUCTION: Pesticide self-poisoning causes severe health and socioeconomic hardship in low- and middle-income countries, including Sri Lanka. A stepped-wedge cluster randomised controlled trial (cRCT) has been designed to test whether 'gatekeeper' training for pesticide vendors reduces pesticide self-poisoning in rural Sri Lanka (Vendor cRCT). Ensuring intervention fidelity in RCTs is essential for consistently replicating interventions, accurately assessing their impact and improving outcomes. Thus, the overarching goal of this proposed study is to explore to what extent the pesticide vendors use the 'gatekeeper' strategies.METHODS AND ANALYSIS: A multimethod qualitative research design is being used to explore the pesticide-selling behaviours of vendors after the 'gatekeeper' training. A subsample of the Vendor cRCT Study population is being recruited using a stratified purposive sampling method in all six intervention districts in Sri Lanka to ensure that the sample is representative of the pesticide vendors in the study area. Participant diaries, observations and focus group discussions are being adopted to collect data. Data triangulation will be performed and data will be analysed thematically.ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study was approved by the Ethics and Research Committee, Faculty of Medicine and Allied Sciences, at the Rajarata University of Sri Lanka (ERC/2023/09). All participants will provide informed consent. Findings will be disseminated in scientific peer-reviewed journals and conference presentations.

AB - INTRODUCTION: Pesticide self-poisoning causes severe health and socioeconomic hardship in low- and middle-income countries, including Sri Lanka. A stepped-wedge cluster randomised controlled trial (cRCT) has been designed to test whether 'gatekeeper' training for pesticide vendors reduces pesticide self-poisoning in rural Sri Lanka (Vendor cRCT). Ensuring intervention fidelity in RCTs is essential for consistently replicating interventions, accurately assessing their impact and improving outcomes. Thus, the overarching goal of this proposed study is to explore to what extent the pesticide vendors use the 'gatekeeper' strategies.METHODS AND ANALYSIS: A multimethod qualitative research design is being used to explore the pesticide-selling behaviours of vendors after the 'gatekeeper' training. A subsample of the Vendor cRCT Study population is being recruited using a stratified purposive sampling method in all six intervention districts in Sri Lanka to ensure that the sample is representative of the pesticide vendors in the study area. Participant diaries, observations and focus group discussions are being adopted to collect data. Data triangulation will be performed and data will be analysed thematically.ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study was approved by the Ethics and Research Committee, Faculty of Medicine and Allied Sciences, at the Rajarata University of Sri Lanka (ERC/2023/09). All participants will provide informed consent. Findings will be disseminated in scientific peer-reviewed journals and conference presentations.

KW - Humans

KW - Sri Lanka

KW - Pesticides/poisoning

KW - Qualitative Research

KW - Rural Population

KW - Commerce

KW - Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic

KW - Poisoning/prevention & control

U2 - 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-082688

DO - 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-082688

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 38977371

VL - 14

JO - BMJ Open

JF - BMJ Open

SN - 2044-6055

IS - 7

M1 - e082688

ER -