Table 2 Overview of objective 1

Preparedness - change in surgical capacity of DLH facilities

Change in Personnel Infrastructure Procedures Equipment Supplies (PIPES) index scores

PIPES questionnaire

Measured at baseline with periodic follow-ups (month 0, month 12, month 24 of the intervention)

Capacity - change in skills of DLH staff

Number of intervention DLH staff who are reported as competent in doing index procedures

Intervention DLH staff self-reported surgical skills confidence levels

PIPES questionnaire

Self-reported surgical confidence tool

Before-and-after controlled comparison

Productivity - increase in surgical outputs and outcomes

Change in number of index surgical procedures performed by DLHs

Types and numbers of new procedures introduced into DLHs

Change in surgical mortality rates

PIPES questionnaire

Monthly data collection from DLHs operating theatre registers

Comparing differences:

(1) before and after and (2) between intervention and control hospitals