Autism Research Capacity Building in Northern Mexico: Preliminary Evaluation of an Ongoing Process

Background: Research Capacity Building (RCB) is an integral component for the production of sound evidence to inform clinical practice and policy decision-making. However, research capacity is often measured with longer-term outcomes of high-quality research, such as peer-reviewed publications or successful grant applications. This framework may not address relevant issues contributing to progress, particularly amongst the initial stages of development or when RCB occurs in Low-Middle Income Countries (LIMCs). A six-principle framework to guide and evaluate four levels of development of RCB in health care was proposed by Cooke (2005). The Autism Global Panel (AGP) is a trans-sectorial network of publicly- and privately-funded organizations in the northern state of Nuevo Leon, Mexico founded in 2013. AGP’s first multi-collaborative research project is geared toward early detection and intervention of autism in toddlers, set to launch in December 2018.

Objectives: To evaluate the ongoing process of autism RCB set by AGP in Northern Mexico, utilizing Cooke’s framework.

Methods: Six principles of RCB were evaluated along four levels of development activity (individuals, teams, care giving organizations, and networks and support units): 1. Skills and confidence building; 2. Support of research ‘close to practice’; 3. Linkages, Partnerships, and Collaborations; 4. Appropriate dissemination; 5. Continuity and sustainability; 6. Appropriate infrastructures. A matrix of criteria for each principle x level was defined by two founding members of AGP and rated according to the development stage as of November 2018 (Not started; In process; Achieved). A summary including the accomplishments expected in the initial five-year period of RCB, and the identification of priorities for the next five years was produced.

Results: From the list of 64 criteria identified guided by the model, 31 (48.4%) were rated as Achieved or In Progress. The remaining criteria (51.5%) were rated as Not Started. Overall, principles 1 and 2 (Building skills and confidence, and Close to practice) were rated as having a percentage of criteria within the Not started status of 50 and 54.5, respectively, whereas principle 3 (Linkages, collaborations, and partnerships) was rated as having all of its criteria within the In Progress or Achieved status. Principles 4, 5, and 6 (Appropriate dissemination and impact, Continuity and sustainability, and Infrastructure) obtained a status rating of Not Started for 77.7, 70, and 63.4% of their criteria, respectively.

Conclusions: Cooke’s framework allows preliminary evaluation of the process of autism RCB in Northern Mexico by the collaborative AGP during its first five years of existence (2013-2018). Three of the six principles evaluated had most of the criteria rated within the Not started status. Distinctively, principle 3 (Linkages, collaborations, and partnerships) was rated as the relative strength of this initiative, receiving 100% of its criteria as In process or Achieved. Secondary strengths were identified in principles 1 and 2 (Building skills and confidence, and Close to practice) where half the criteria were rated as In Process or Achieved. The progress documented in this preliminary evaluation of the RBC process is promising and will contribute to inform the efforts prioritized for the next five years.