Submission deadline: Closed

Workshop date: 30 November 2009

Workshop 8 (This workshop will be held at the University of KwaZulu Natal):
Introduction to SAS (Statistical Analysis Software, version 9.1)
08:30 - 12:30
Cost: R250

Students!
You qualify for a half price discount for workshops. Please fax a copy of your student cards to +27 21 938-0238 or email it to meagan.simpson@mrc.ac.za in order to qualify for the reduced fee.

Parking at the ICC Durban
Delegates have to pay for their own parking on the 30 November 2009. Parking will be free from the 1- 2 December 2009

Workshop 1: Academic literacies amongst Master of Public Health (MPH) students
Dr Anna Voce, Department of Public Health Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, and Dr Ermien Van Pletzen, Language Development Group, Academic Development Programme, Centre for Higher Education Development, University of Cape Town.
Master of Public Health (MPH) programmes recruit students from a range of health professional backgrounds, employed in a variety of public health settings.  Students admitted into MPH programmes need to: acquire proficiency in reading large volumes of text, in what initially is unfamiliar language and academic discourse; synthesise a number of paradigms to analyse and respond to public health problems; debate and write assignments that demonstrate a logical evidence-based argument; and finally produce a dissertation that shows the appropriate use of research methodologies, the production of valid study results and appropriate engagement with the study results.  On examination of the final dissertation, the end point of studies in public health, some dissertations are returned to the student for major corrections and revisions, for not having demonstrated an adequate academic style in reviewing the literature, and in presenting and discussing results. This workshop will present an analysis of MPH academic writing practices amongst MPH students from the different MPH programmes offered in South African universities.  It will explore theoretical frameworks for assisting students to write in the field of public health.  It will explore the distinctive features of academic writing in the discipline of public health generally, and in writing the MPH dissertation specifically.  It will discuss interventions to develop public health academic literacies. The workshop aims to develop a common understanding of academic literacies in public health and approaches to teaching academic writing to MPH students. Target audience: Public health educationalists, research supervisors, applied linguists, students in public health.

Workshop 2: Hospital Management Current Trends: Future Prospects (Cancelled)
Prof Noddy Jinabhai, Head, Department of Public Health Medicine, University of KwaZulu Natal. (Full day workshop)
The overall purpose of the workshop is share with Hospital Managers, the Current trends, new Strategic direction of the recently elected Government, and sharply focus on service delivery. Specific objectives are to allow Hospital Managers to critically reflect on their current practices, so as to improve future service delivery. The workshop will be introduced at the National human resource directorate and will include a reviewer of the National Hospital Management Training Programme by Mr M. Mogale and Dr Barry Kistnasamy. Professor Shan Naidoo and Dr Debs Basu will facilitate the early morning session on Critical Management Elements for Effective and Efficient Hospital Service Delivery. Dr Carol Marshall Chief Director from the National Department of Health, will then present day workshop on Quality Assurance in Hospital Service. The afternoon session will be introduced Prof Prashini Moodley, Head, Department of Microbiology, University of KwaZulu-Natal will introduce the afternoon topic: Current trends in Infection Control. Part of this session will include a talk and discussion led by Professor W Sturm on Recent Advances in MDR & XDR TB Control. This workshop will be geared at Hospital Managers as well as Hospital Medical Managers.

Workshop 3: Theory-Based for Public Health Intervention Research Workshop (Registrations closed)
Prof. Supa Pengpid: Professor, School of Public Health, University of Limpopo, South Africa. Miss Linda Skaal: Lecturer, School of Health care Sciences, University of Limpopo. Mrs.Ntombizodwa Mbelle: Director Research and Development, National Department of Health. (1/2 day workshop)
Less than 1% of academic research output is relevant to public health intervention research, while research organization produces between 1 and 6% of research output relevant to public health intervention. The capacity to conduct intervention-oriented research in health appears to be underdeveloped. This workshop aim to:

• Introduce theory-based research in public health; Equip participants of theory and evidence based public health intervention; Build capacity to conduct intervention-oriented research in public health; Exchange knowledge and research experiences; and Establish interest group in theory-based and intervention research.

Contents: the participants will learn about:

• The utilization of theory to generate ideas in public health research and evaluation,
• Global perspective of theory-based public health intervention research,
• How to develop an effective intervention-oriented research,
• Models and theories in public health and health behaviour research,
• Methods of theory testing and theory comparison in research,
• Strategy for the development and implementation of intervention programmes,
• Practical case study  and models of effective of intervention research,
• National health research priority and research support

Expected attendees: Public health researchers, evaluators, project managers, clinicians and specialists, Post-graduate students at both master and doctoral levels, Health research managers and policy makers

Workshop 4: “There can be no health without mental health” (Cancelled)
Lyn Middleton, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu Natal. Panel Members: Joanthan Burns (UKZN), Crick Lund (UCT), Inge Petersen (UKZN), Leana Uys (UKZN) (2 ½ hour workshop)
Mental health and psychiatric care are an important and visible part of the rhetoric of the primary health care declaration. Integrated care, accessible mental health and psychiatric services, respect for human rights, protection of vulnerable populations, stigma-free and community-based care are the most commonly occurring descriptors embedded within the mental health stewardship documents and practices of countries endorsing the declaration in practice. The visibility of mental health/psychiatric disorders within this framework was hardly surprising, given the significant contribution of mental disorders to the overall global burden of disease. What was surprising in contrast, and thus the subject of on-going debate since 2003, is the relative invisibility of mental health and psychiatric disorders within the public health rhetoric of the more recent millennium development goals for health and education and their marked invisibility within targets and indicators devised for these goals. The irony for  mental health is that its absence from the contemporary public health agenda - the MDG focus -  means that it has limited recourse to these goals and hence, to the most talked-about public health strategy for calling authorities to account for the status of public  health and in this case, of public mental health.  Are declarations - as far as mental health and psychiatric care is concerned - inevitably rhetorical?

This workshop aims to

1. Take a lively and critical look at what are becoming possibly the priority post-integration questions facing mental health and psychiatric services across the life-span in South Africa and the African region and in so doing:
2. To develop research focus areas and potentially, networks, for interdisciplinary research in exploring priorities for implementing, evaluating and improving mental health/psychiatric care in local contexts.

Workshop 5: “Crossing the Great Divide”- Intersectoral Public Health action: myth, mystery or possibility?
Dr Nazia Peer, School of Public Heath and Family Medicine, UCT. (1/2 day workshop)
Most of the influences that shape the health of populations and the distribution of health inequities lie outside the exclusive jurisdiction of the health sector. This necessitates that the health sector engage with other sectors of government and society to address the health issues. However this is not always possible and seems more like an ideal than a reality.

This workshop will focus on barriers and obstacles that face intersectoral action, whilst drawing on what has been learned from successful intersectoral interventions. Case studies will be presented which will allow a comparison on similar work done in different provinces.

Professor David Sanders will speak on a project on Sanitation that started well but demised because of factors that included a lack of support from the local authority. This will be contrasted with the experiences from Durban where the Sanitation project did work because of progressive action by the local authority. Jabulile Shabalala - Rakosa, a Primary Health Care Director from the City of Joburg is working on various intersectoral public health issues and will be speaking on her work. There will also be a discussion on the role of a provincial burden of disease project in trying to influence liquor legislation in the Western Cape.

The panel will discuss potential ways to approach intersectoral work to possibly guide health practitioners, researchers and policy makers. The workshop is aimed at anyone working in collaborative programmes or having an interest in them.

Workshop 6: Meeting MDG 6: learn about how the Cochrane HIV/AIDS Review Group can help you meet this challenge
Elizabeth D Pienaar and Nandi Siegfried on behalf of the Cochrane HIV/AIDS Review group.
Aim of skills development session
To equip participants with the knowledge to

• Understand the differences between traditional narrative reviews and systematic reviews
• Know where to find systematic reviews of HIV interventions
• Interpret the results of a systematic review including meta-analyses

Brief description of skills development session
Millennium Development Goal 6 has as its aim to combat HIV/AIDS. Given the serious implications of the unfolding HIV/AIDS pandemic it is essential for healthcare providers to provide care based on the most reliable evidence.  In order to make informed decisions, they need to access, appraise and interpret relevant research evidence.  The focus of the Cochrane HIV/AIDS Review Group is to conduct systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials to evaluate the prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of HIV infection and AIDS. Systematic reviews of prevention interventions include primary and secondary prevention.  Reviews of treatment interventions include treatment of HIV infection and AIDS and the opportunistic infections and malignancies associated with HIV infections. During this workshop we will introduce the format of systematic reviews and explain the difference between these reviews and traditional narrative reviews. Participants will gain skills necessary to access, assess and interpret systematic reviews with respect to HIV/AIDS.

Expected outcomes
At the end of the workshop attendees will have:

1. Knowledge and understanding of systematic reviews
2. Skills and knowledge needed to access, assess and interpret the results of a systematic review health care interventions related to HIV/AIDS

Target audience: Health care providers, policy makers and researchers. 

Workshop 7: Organizing and Collaborating for Public Health (1/2 day - 3 hour - workshop)
Advancing public health, reducing health disparities and creating a healthy society requires crossing professional, program, and frequently geographic boundaries. It involves engaging people in the community, educators, policy makers, business leaders and the media, among others. It necessitates working with government at all levels and with organizations in the private for profit and not for profit sectors.  This inter-active workshop will focus on strategies, techniques, and tools participants can use to raise awareness, organize, collaborate, and build coalitions and partnership for addressing specific public health issues.  Workshop leaders and participants will share examples of approaches used and lessons learned from best practice approaches and efforts that have been used both within and outside of South Africa. There will be an opportunity for participants to develop preliminarystrategies to address issues of particular concern to them that can be later enhanced for actual implementation.

Workshop Leaders: Phyllis E. Kaye, MPA, is a member of the American Public Health Association, has served on its governing council, and is a past chair of its Community Health Planning and Policy Development Section.  She has also served on as Vice President and on the governing council of the Metropolitan Washington Public Health Association.  She is currently working with APHA’s Science Office on its Technical Assistance Training for country public health associations.

Leila Abrar also works with APHA’s Science Office on its Technical Assistance Training for country public health associations and has held senior positions in the District of Columbia’s Department of Health. Barbara J. Hatcher, PhD, MPH, RN, FAAN, Chief Science Officer, on the American Public Health Association.

Workshop 8: Introduction to SAS (Statistical Analysis Software, version 9.1) (This workshop will be held at the University of KwaZulu Natal)
Mrs Anneke Grobler, Head: Statistics, Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA). (1/2 day workshop)
As an African Public Health Association, we are committed to strengthening local and regional public health skills. The ability to use statistical software packages is a must for all aspiring researchers. This half day workshop will provide an introduction to performing statistical analysis using SAS.  A short introduction to SAS will be given.  This will include how to import data into SAS and manipulate data in order to create the variables you need for analysis.

The following aspects of analysis will be covered:

• frequency descriptions in 2x2 tables (using PROC FREQ), calculation of odds ratios, and other statistics and p-values associated with 2x2 tables
• summary statistics of continuous variables (mean, median, standard deviation, etc.) using PROC UNIVARIATE and PROC MEANS.  The attendee will also learn how to calculate appropriate p-values when comparing continuous variables between groups.

This is an interactive workshop. Delegates will learn the basics of SAS using practical examples. Computers with SAS and tutors will be available to assist delegates during the coursework. The workshop is aimed at registrars and students with basic statistical knowledge, but no SAS knowledge. Maximum no. of delegates: 30