Conference update – so far, so very good!

The GP & PHC Research Conference is ramping up to be a first class event. Our call for abstracts resulted in a record number of 323 submissions (compared to 286 in 2008). This included 278 abstracts for papers and posters, details of which are summarised in the article below.

While our program is being finalised the workshops have been selected. You may find it hard to choose among the following:

1. Research quality assessment - how should primary care respond to the challenge?
2. An inclusive approach to raising standards in general practice: working with a 'community of practice' (CoP)
3. Primary health care reform: setting the research agenda
4. A tool for assessing and guiding improvements in health centre systems: application in research, evaluation and development
5. Making words matter: conducting ‘good’ qualitative research
6. Narrative and organisational change
7. Writing for publication

Our concurrent symposia are also not to be missed. With titles such as these, there is something for everyone.

1. Driving Change in chronic disease management: Teamworking in general practice
2. Driving Change in Australian primary mental health care: the Access to Allied Psychological Services projects
3. General practice in Australia, health priorities and policy 1998-2008
4. The international experience of collaboratives - can one size fit all?
5. Understanding variation in quality of care in Indigenous primary health care - what does this mean for quality improvement?
6. Driving Change with record linkage research

All keynote speakers are now confirmed. Their presentations will encourage vigorous debate and discussion throughout the conference and beyond. There are two international speakers, Dr Tikki Pang comes to us from the World Health Organization in Geneva where he leads the Research Policy and Cooperation section. Professor Frank Sullivan from Scotland was recently awarded the BMJ paper of the year for his team’s paper Early treatment with prednisolone or acyclovir in Bell’s palsy. More information about the speakers can be found at <www.phcris.org.au/conference/2009>

See you at the Crown Promenade in Melbourne in July.