The STFM research committee is assembling a variety of research-related activities for the STFM Annual Spring Conference, which will be held May 12–16, 2004, in Toronto. There will be 12, 90-minute slots for forum presentations, a Research Poster Fair (including completed projects and fellows’ works in progress), and a Resident/Student Research Forum. We have accepted 2 submissions for distinguished paper presentations, 36 research forum podium presentations, and 29 research poster presentations, for a total of 13 more completed research projects than were presented at the 2003 conference. These projects cover a wide spectrum of research in family medicine, including educational interventions, clinical care, health care policy, behavioral health, and cross-cultural issues. Our 2 distinguished papers this year describe patient experiences with medical errors and a model for evidence-based depression care.
Whereas several of the above presentations include the work of students, residents, or fellows, the committee also recognizes the importance of providing opportunities for more feedback to these budding researchers. We will have posters presenting fellows’ works in progress, where attendees can discuss projects in detail with fellows and provide constructive feedback. Another presentation venue will be the Resident/ Student Research Forum, where residents and students will present their completed work in a preconference workshop and feedback session. A basic skill-building session will also be held during the meeting for recently graduated fellows and junior research faculty.
The STFM Annual Spring Conference also provides an opportunity to highlight the accomplishments of family medicine researchers. The research committee reviews all original research papers published by STFM members during the preceding academic year for selection of a Best Paper Award. Papers are nominated by STFM members or identified in an extensive literature search. This year, 20 papers were nominated for final consideration of the award, and the final selection will be announced in Toronto. We will also announce the winner of the Curtis G. Hames Research Award, presented annually in recognition of an outstanding career of contributions to family medicine research. The presentations by the Hames Award winner and the STFM Best Paper Award winner are highlights of the annual meeting.
Also among the highlights this year will be the research-themed plenary session. The research plenary address, “You Do WHAT Research in a Family Medicine Department?” will be delivered by Mary Marden-Velasquez, PhD, from the University of Texas HSC at Houston. This plenary presentation promises to be a lively exploration of the variety of topics Dr. Velasquez has studied in the context of the transtheoretical model (TTM) of behavior change and motivational interviewing. Dr. Velasquez will describe use of the TTM and brief motivational interventions in her current clinical trials in prevention of alcohol-exposed pregnancies, sexually transmitted disease prevention, and treatment of substance abuse. She will also discuss use of the TTM in clinical research and patient care by family medicine faculty, residents, and fellows, including work in diabetes, pregnancy and smoking, advance care planning directives, childhood obesity, and eating disorders.
All told, there will be more than 90 presentations of original research at the STFM Annual Spring Conference. Be a part of this great research exchange by registering for the conference today. Visit http://www.stfm.org for complete conference information and to register online.
Please help to support and promote research within our discipline by attending and contributing to some of these sessions. The committee also welcomes feedback on the research program and suggestions for future presentations. Best of luck choosing among all the possible presentations, and enjoy the meeting!
Erik Lindbloom MD, MSPH
Chair, STFM Research Committee
- © 2004 Annals of Family Medicine, Inc.