Nepal Study Site
Work Package 1 INSTIL: (Self Help Evaluation for lepRosy and other conditions in NePAl (SHERPA) Study)
The SHERPA study evaluated a service intervention called Integrated Mobilization of People for Active Community Transformation (IMPACT). This is a programme funded by the government of Australia to encourage self-care and self-help. We evaluated the IMPACT intervention by following a cohort of 18 self-help clusters from around the time of inception to 24 months. The study was a prospective, cluster-based, non-randomised controlled study. The IMPACT intervention was rolled-out to 36 clusters in total, of which we studied the final 18 clusters.
Work Package 3: TABLE Trial
We ran a clinical trial titled 'Trial of Autologous Blood products to promote ulcer Healing in LEprosy (TABLE)'. This is a randomised clinical trial (RCT) to evaluate the efficacy of Leukocyte and Platelet-Rich Fibrin (L-PRF) on healing rates for leprosy ulcers and on duration of hospital stay.
Work Package 4: Sustainability of Self-Help Groups
This is one of four studies on sustainability of Self-Help Groups (SHG) once funding ceases. The broad aim of the Nepal study was to evaluate the sustainability of program activities of PACED (Participatory Action for Community Empowerment and Development) and CEDAR (Community Empowerment, Development, Disability & Rehabilitation), projects run by TLMN and of perceptions any short-term benefits.