Supporting Wellness through Integrated Family Training (SWIFT) Study South Africa Updates

Sequential Multiple Assignment Randomised Trial (SMART) to identify the most optimal and cost-effective system of delivery of the Parenting for Lifelong Health (PLH) human-digital parenting package within the health sector. Benefactors will be parents or caregivers above the age of 18 who show an interest in parenting support.

2024

Engagements conducted in 2023, generated positive responses to the SWIFT study with varying stakeholders, indicating the relevance and alignment to current government priorities. For example, the establishment of Area Based Teams which draw together government (Department of Social Development and the Department of Health and Wellness) and community stakeholders within study implementation areas. Following these engagements, the SWIFT team has outlined an expected timeline for research implementation in 2024, beginning with a stakeholder co-design workshop. To be hosted in collaboration with CWBSA, the workshop aims to check translations are contextually appropriate, determine which referral pathways are feasible to build into the programme, and which additional ParentText modules can be offered to parents following a 5-day user experience. The team will meet with implementation partner IDEMS to review the adaptation of ParentText for the study, which will inform the development of a study protocol once the research design and implementation plans are finalised. Over this period, the team also met with the GPI communications colleagues to review expectations for website updates, and the creation of materials to promote the SWIFT brand

2023

In phase 1 of research implementation, The SWIFT team has continued to make good progress with stakeholder engagements. Following initial discussions with the provincial mental health steering committee, the team received confirmation of the Western Cape mental health task team’s interest in incorporating SWIFT into the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) project. During a training workshop on 17 November, Cindee Bruyns (Co-investigator) and Carly Katzef (Research Assistant) also learnt about a red flags tool for assisting frontline staff to make rapid decisions regarding children’s needs, which will be funded alongside the CAMHS project. On 6 December, Cindee and Carly presented the SWIFT study to the Witzenberg mental health steering committee in Ceres. Those in attendance included psychologists, social workers, community health workers and nurses. There was enthusiasm for the project and attendees provided valuable contributions for the team’s planning endeavours. The team is reviewing which departments and units can best support the programme, to ensure as many costs as possible are covered by systems that will be sustainable once SWIFT finishes. 

Following the South African Parenting Programme Implementers Network (SAPPIN) conference (25 - 26 October), the SWIFT team identified the opportunity to establish a responsible research working group to address the relationship between academia and NGOs in research collaborations. A meeting was held with Genevieve Haupt Ronnie (GPI Community of Practice Lead) and the SAPPIN board on 22 November. SAPPIN is reviewing the proposed group with their member NGOs.

The Systems Testing project team continues to make good progress in its formative and design work. The research team is in the process of identifying and interviewing key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Social Development, to gain insights into organisational structure and operations of local health care centres. Development of  a detailed flow-chart to elucidate the interaction of nursing staff with ParentText is also underway. Once finalised, the flow chart will inform the content of future interviews and a study protocol. Refinement of systems for monitoring and documenting the tool's uptake are also ongoing. 

The team is undertaking a retrospective analysis of past trials to garner more information about parents whose practices remained unchanged post-intervention.  Following a meeting with economists, the team will also investigate analysis options for determining the costs of upscaling and supporting evidence for cost effectiveness and financial value derived from study implementation. In terms of permissions and stakeholder engagement, the team are in the early stages of liaising with the City of Cape Town, which is responsible for family planning and health services. In addition, the team is seeking mandates from all relevant local, provincial, and national government stakeholders, ensuring all necessary permissions are in place. 
 

2022