Call for pre and post congress course proposals Submission deadline: 14 th February 2014 Submission guidelines Please read this information carefully before proceeding to the online submission form. The World Confederation for Physical Therapy Congress will take place in Singapore from 1 st to 4 th May 2015. The International Scientific Committee (ISC) now wishes to invite proposals for pre and post congress courses. Submission process: All submissions must be made electronically via the congress website www.wcpt.org/congress Important dates: Submission opens 14 th October 2013 Submission deadline 14 th February 2014 Notification of outcome 1 st May 2014 The general call for abstracts for platform and poster presentation will be available from January 2014 with a submission deadline of 15 th August 2014. Information will be published on the WCPT website when available. Pre and post congress courses Pre and post congress programming is designed to complement the scientific programme with a focus on applied knowledge and skills. Courses should actively engage participants, via any of a range of learning formats, to explore issues in depth in an area of clinical practice, education, management, research or policy. The courses offer the delegate the chance to gain practical experience, listen to the latest research and practice advances, learn directly from experts and meet with fellow delegates in their field of interest. Delegates can add pre and/or post congress courses to make up their own package of high quality and diverse offerings to match their areas of interest to enhance their experience of attending WCPT Congress 2015. Page 1 of 7
The pre and post congress courses are an optional element that are open to delegates who register to attend at least one day of the main congress and they carry a separate fee. Attendance numbers are restricted and managed through the registration process. There are a limited number of openings available for these sessions as they complement other sessions across the three day programme. When and where A variety of half and one day courses will be offered on the day preceding congress, 1 st May 2015, and the day following congress, 5 th May 2015. Sessions will be located in facilities designed to offer a range of formats, close to the congress centre. The range of facilities being secured includes clinical practical rooms, flexible small lecture rooms and lecture theatres. Gait, exercise physiology, simulation laboratories and a hydrotherapy pool may also be available. Description Each course is organised by a recognised expert in the field. The organiser has the responsibility for developing and running the programme, and where there is more than one presenter, inviting speakers to a maximum of five. The ISC is particularly interested in seeing proposals that are evidence based, address significant contemporary issues and innovations in physical therapy practice, education, management, research or policy and include perspectives from low income countries. The ISC are keen to include a range of courses from across WCPT s regions. Topics: The call for proposals for pre and post congress courses is open to any topic that fits at least one of the programme tracks. An international congress such as WCPT 2015 provides a rare opportunity for people with interests of global importance, but few opportunities to gather in sufficient numbers for continuing professional development courses, to be in the same place at the same time. The ISC is particularly interested in topics of more specialised interest as well as those of wide appeal. Audience number: Levels of education: 30-250+ depending on the format Introductory designed to provide an introduction to the topic and raise awareness. It assumes that delegates have little or no knowledge of the areas to be covered Intermediate designed to increase levels of understanding and application for delegates who have a general familiarity with the subject. Advanced designed for delegates who have detailed knowledge of the topic and the focus is on advanced techniques, recent developments and future directions Multiple designed to accommodate a range of abilities and levels of knowledge Format: Room layouts: Courses, workshops, seminars, lectures, techniques/skills demonstrations, case study discussions, hands-on experience and/or discussion groups Lecture theatre, class room, group tables, practical class room, laboratory, pool Page 2 of 7
Programme Tracks WCPT 2015 will be structured around five programme tracks. These will effectively draw together different sessions that complement each other. Track 1: Global health The world's most pressing health issues, international health priorities and policies and the implications and opportunities for physical therapists. Track 2: Professional issues The effect professional issues have on health policy, service provision, quality and standards, service users and the context and scope of practice. Track 3: Professional practice The latest advances for practising clinicians in their daily practice, encompassing health promotion, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation throughout the lifespan and across different service settings. Track 4: Education The education of physical therapists to be fit for practice throughout their career in a changing environment and in different contexts. Track 5: Research methodology Exploring research methodology and innovative ways to generate and disseminate the evidence that is needed for evidence based practice in physical therapy. Funding for pre and post congress courses For one day courses: The expenses for the course organiser and one additional presenter for economy travel plus 2 nights accommodation at a congress hotel will be reimbursed. Course organisers and one additional presenter will be given one day complimentary registration for the congress to use on a day of their choice. For half day courses: Course organisers and one additional presenter will be given one day complimentary registration for the congress to use on a day of their choice. WCPT s policy agreed by the Executive Committee, and International Scientific Committee, is that honoraria will not be provided for course organiser or presenters. Course fees will be set by WCPT to cover all costs associated with running the course. Accepted courses not meeting break even status, as determined by WCPT, may be cancelled. Selection Criteria The following selection criteria will be used to review all proposals. The Committee are seeking sessions that: are relevant to one or more of the programme tracks focus on applied knowledge and skills include speakers with international experience and standing in the topic area Page 3 of 7
articulate a clear purpose and learning objectives incorporate current available evidence and implications for practice are designed to stimulate active engagement with delegates appeal to an internationally diverse audience are feasible within the allotted time In addition to the preceding selection criteria consideration will be given to proposals that support inclusion, as appropriate, of less experienced with established presenters. Submission of proposals The course organiser should complete the online submission form on behalf of all presenters, whose agreement to participate must have been obtained prior to submission. The maximum number of presenters on any one course is five. Each submission must be made electronically via the WCPT website. The online submission form will provide restricted space for data entry to limit the word count. To assist you in preparing your submission an indication of the available word count is provided. Submissions should include the following: a) Title of proposed course [10 words] b) Names of organiser and all presenters c) Contact details of all contributors to include: i. Full name, organisation/institution, city and country as you would wish it to appear in the completed programme ii. E-mail, work telephone, mailing address iii. Brief biography outlining academic qualifications, positions/appointments, publication and presentation track record, research information (interests, grants), professional practice background, previous experience of running courses and English language ability. [250 words] d) Fit with congress programme track and topic area [Completed via drop-down list] e) Target audience [25 words] f) Summary of the session format that will be followed [100 words] g) Overview of the course content. This will be used in promotional materials and should include: i. Title ii. Presenters (organiser first, followed by all presenters) iii. Learning objectives (up to 3) iv. Level of learning v. Description (this must be evidence based) vi. Implications/conclusions vii. Key words (up to 3) viii. Source(s) of funding or support for the work being presented Total [750 words covering items iii-vi] h) Confirmation that the terms and conditions have been read and accepted. i) Logistical requirements: i. Audience size Page 4 of 7
ii. Room set up [eg lecture theatre, class room, group tables, practical class room, etc] iii. Equipment requirements [eg high-low beds, mats, small equipment such as weights] iv. Preferred date pre or post congress. Preferences will be noted and where possible accommodated. v. Course length [half (3-4 hours contact) or full day (7-8 hours contact)] Organisers of shortlisted proposals will be asked to submit a course timetable according to the format prescribed [Arial font, size 10]: Example format: Time from - to Content Materials & methods Speaker(s) 8:30 9:00 Introduction: Speakers Participants Course aims and objectives Handout - programme outline Ice breaker exercise Course leader General Information 1. The congress language is English and all proposals and presentations must be made in English. 2. A course organiser or speaker may appear in a maximum of one course proposal. This is separate to any inclusion in a focused symposium proposal and does not affect any future abstract submissions. 3. Course organisers and presenters are expected to register for at least one day of congress. 4. Organisers and one presenter of half and one day courses will be given one day complimentary registration for the congress to use on a day of their choice. 5. Payments as outlined above in the section on Funding for pre and post congress courses. 7. Proposals should be based on the best available evidence. Any reference to personal experience or hypotheses should be clearly labelled as such. 8. All research and studies that involve human subjects reported in submitted proposals must comply with the guiding principles for experimental procedures found in the Declaration of Helsinki of the World Medical Association (www.wma.net/en/30publications/10policies/b3/) and the Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences (CIOMS) International Ethical Guidelines for Biomedical Research Involving Human Subjects (www.cioms.ch/images/stories/cioms/guidelines/guidelines_nov_2002_blurb.htm) published in collaboration with the World Health Organization. Research involving animal subjects must comply with the guiding principles set out in the International Guiding Principles for Biomedical Research Involving Animals (www.cioms.ch/images/stories/cioms/guidelines/1985_texts_of_guidelines.htm) published by CIOMS. 9. All proposals and presentations must adhere to the use of people-first language. A person must not be referred to by disability or condition, and terms that could be considered biasing or discriminatory in any way should be removed (eg person with a stroke instead of stroke Page 5 of 7
patients ). See: www.disabilityisnatural.com/explore/people-first-language for more information and examples. 10. Any source of funding or support for the work being presented should be acknowledged. 11. Presenters are requested to disclose potential conflicts of interest regarding their presentation in the first slide. This will allow the audience to take potential conflicts of interest into account when assessing the objectivity of the presentation. 12. The International Scientific Committee may invite course organisers and presenters to contribute to other congress sessions, such as poster walks and chairing, and their cooperation and support would be welcomed. 13. WCPT will manage the production of a reasonable amount of handout materials which course organisers must provide to timelines notified. 14. WCPT is exploring options to publish congress sessions and outputs for those unable to attend the congress in person. The use of various media options is being investigated and may include podcasts and virtual on-line access. Some sessions may be audio-taped and PowerPoint presentations recorded. Any recordings of PowerPoint presentations made available on CD or online will be in PDF format; original PowerPoint files will not be published. As plans are agreed the implications will be communicated with course organisers and their cooperation is expected. 15. The author(s) retain the right, after presentation at the Congress, to subsequently include the work in articles, books, or derivative works that he/she authors or edits provided said use does not imply the endorsement of the WCPT. 16. Pre and post congress courses should not be used for marketing opportunities for new products, equipment or organisations, nor to refute or denigrate competitors products. 17. Descriptions and objectives for each course will be published in the preliminary and final programmes, on WCPT s website and in other promotional material, using the information submitted. 18. Programme scheduling will be determined by the International Scientific Committee to ensure best fit with the overall programme. Any requests for specific dates and times cannot be guaranteed, but will be considered if requested at the time of proposal submission. 19. All proposal submissions must be completed using the online application form. 20. All decisions of the International Scientific Committee are final. 21. Accepted courses may be cancelled if they do not meet the break even status as determined by WCPT. Page 6 of 7
Consent, permissions and copyright In submitting a proposal you must confirm that: you accept responsibility for the accuracy of the submitted proposal and understand that the content cannot be modified or corrected after the submission deadline and that information provided will be published exactly as submitted all co-authors are aware of and agree to the content of the proposal and support the data presented you accept responsibility as the contact person for all correspondence about the proposal and to share information with co-authors about its status you have secured any copyright/permissions clearance required relating to any previous presentations, equipment or other material for inclusion in the WCPT congress, its proceedings or other congress publications for all studies involving human or animal subjects, permission has been obtained from the relevant regulatory authority and properly informed consent given where appropriate anyone who is identifiable in the proposal and presentation materials has given their consent to be included the work is original, except for extracts from copyrighted works used with permission from the copyright holders, and that it does not infringe upon any copyright, proprietary, or personal right of any third party you have identified any potential conflicts of interest eg financial interest in products or processes described in the course materials, stock ownership, membership on an advisory board or board of directors, or other substantive relationships On behalf of all co-authors the submitter will confirm: release of the copyright to WCPT to publish electronically and in other formats information from the proposal that will be presented at WCPT Congress 2015 (eg congress website, programme, print materials) consent to have authors names, affiliation and biographical material being used in connection with the publication of your work When completing the application form you will be asked to confirm that you have read and understood the general information and the requirements you are expected to fulfil. Page 7 of 7