What does ‘adaptive programming’ mean in the health sector?
Resource type
Author/contributor
- Tulloch, Olivia (Author)
Title
What does ‘adaptive programming’ mean in the health sector?
Abstract
• There is considerable interest in the concept of adaptive development and what it may look
like in different sectors, including health.
• Adaptive types of programming from the health sector are relatively advanced; as we work
towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), experiences in health can provide
useful lessons for other areas of development.
• The international health community may not use the label ‘adaptive development’, but many
are already conducting adaptive work. ‘Quality improvement’ is one such tried and tested
approach.
• Quality improvement is problem-driven, iterative and flexible. The methodology and
principles can be used to identify, test and implement changes in any context or part of a
health system.
• Quality improvement is being used successfully, but there is still limited experience and
evidence of how to apply its values and philosophy beyond the project level and embed it
within national structures and systems.
• Systems thinking and analysis of the political economy environment may help embed
complex interventions like quality improvement and sustain their achievements
Institution
ODI
Date
December 2015
Pages
9
Accessed
2018-12-10
Citation
Tulloch, O. (2015). What does ‘adaptive programming’ mean in the health sector? (p. 9). ODI. https://www.odi.org/sites/odi.org.uk/files/odi-assets/publications-opinion-files/10170.pdf
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