Submission Details

The 12^th Australian Palliative Care Conference Abstract Submission Guidelines
Please click here to download a PDF copy of the Submission Guidelines

Welcome to the 12^th Australian Palliative Care Conference.  Palliative Care – everyone’s business will be held in Canberra, ACT from Tuesday 3^rd – Friday 6^th September 2013. The conference will provide opportunities to share knowledge, leadership, inspiration and information about palliative care with delegates from around the world.

You are invited to submit an abstract for Palliative Care – everyone’s business. This conference will provide an opportunity for those involved in the palliative care sector to share ideas, research and expertise on subjects relating to palliative care. Abstracts must address one of the sub-themes listed below and demonstrate a direct link to the conference theme of Palliative Care – everyone’s business.

Abstracts are sought from anyone interested in quality care at the end of life for all, including doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, academics, volunteers, carers, researchers, educators, advocates, peak bodies and national associations.

KEY DATES

Abstract submission opens                           18^th February 2013

Conference registration opens                        March 2013

Abstract submission closes                          22^nd April 2013

Notification of acceptance                             June

Early bird registration closes                          30th June 2013

Standard registration closes                           11^th August

CONFERENCE THEME

The overall theme of the conference is Palliative Care – everyone’s business. The conference aims to reflect the different dimensions in palliative care, but incorporating all aspects into a primary goal. The conference will provide the opportunity for robust discussion, hands on learning, interesting presentations and valuable networking.

CONFERENCE STREAMS

1. Patient
2. Families and Carers
3. Health Providers
4. Community

1. Patient

This stream focuses on the patient as the core of the palliative care experience. It will cover anything that impacts upon the patient and could include topics such as:

• New drugs and therapies
• Clinical issues and concerns
• Non-malignant issues
• Advance care planning
• Diverse patient populations including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Communities (CALD) Communities, rural and remote, Gay, Lesbian, Transgender, Bisexual and Intersex (GLTBI) living alone, homeless etc
• Models of care and service delivery
• The patient’s perspective - experience/education/self-management

2. Families and Carers

This stream focuses on the needs and experience of families and carers and how they are integral to palliative care. Topics could include:

• Meeting the needs of carers
• Family and carer populations including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, CALD, rural and remote, GLTBI, Grief and bereavement
• Family and carer projects and resources

3. Health Providers

This stream acknowledges health providers as formal partners in care. It could include abstracts on:

• Education and training
• Quality improvement
• Settings of care
• Multidisciplinary care, including allied health, nurse practitioners, volunteers and primary care providers
• Service models
• How care is provided

4. Community

Palliative care needs to be firmly anchored in the community. This stream will look at issues such as:

• Population health – developing appropriate palliative care for specific communities
• Policy initiatives and planning for the future
• National palliative care programs
• Palliative care and community partners such as employers, related sectors and agencies (eg carer organisations, local government, aged care services etc)
• Influencing community understanding – attitudes to palliative care, increasing community capacity, exploring the role of health consumers

The following types of presentation are planned for the conference:

• Workshops (45 minutes or 90 minutes)
• Research presentations (25 minutes)
• Project reports (15 minutes)
• Speed talks (8 minutes)
• Poster presentations 

Authors should state a preference for their presentation type and address the abstract to one of the conference streams. However, in balancing the program the committee may require authors to present their work in an alternate format. 

WORKSHOPS

These are hands on, skills-based presentations. Workshop presentations will be 45 or 90 minutes in length. They must be interactive, and include practical information or skills that participants can take away with them.

RESEARCH PRESENTATIONS

These are oral presentations of original research related to end of life care. A research paper consists of a 25 minute presentation including up to ten minutes for questions and discussion. Where possible, presentations with a similar theme will be grouped together.

PROJECT REPORTS

These are reports on projects or activities undertaken which relate to end of life care. Each project presentation is 15 minutes in length, with a total of five projects being presented in each session. There will be a ten minute question period at the end of the session. Where possible, projects of a similar theme will be grouped together.

POSTER PRESENTATIONS AND SPEED TALKS

Posters will be permanently on display during the conference. Posters can present research in progress, case studies, divisional projects or clinical topics. A poster viewing session will take place on Wednesday 4^th September 2013 from 5.00 – 6.00pm for delegates to discuss the posters with their authors. Posters are to be grouped in themes. Guidelines for your poster will be sent to you upon acceptance of presenting a poster at the conference.

The most outstanding posters as judged by the review committee will also be presented orally.  These posters will be included in the Speed Talks session on day two of the conference. Each presenter will have eight minutes to present their poster with a maximum of four slides.

IAN MADDOCKS GUEST LECTURE

The Ian Maddocks Guest Lecture position is awarded to the best submission by an individual under the age of 40 who is engaged in the study and/or delivery of palliative care in any of its component disciplines.

SELECTION CRITERIA – ALL PRESENTATIONS

Abstracts will be assessed against the following criteria:

• the abstract adds to existing knowledge, is innovative, and is evidence based
• the abstract contributes to the themes of the conference
• the abstract is relevant to palliative care

Submissions are invited on topics relevant to the conference theme. However this does not limit or exclude any other potential submission.

ABSTRACT SUBMISSION

In order for your presentation to be considered these guidelines must be followed as closely as possible. Please ensure that the presenting author completes the abstract submission. Do not include graphs or tables in your abstract submission. A sample abstract submission is available on the conference website as a guide.

ABSTRACTS FOR ALL PRESENTATIONS SHOULD INCLUDE:

Text only submissions consisting of 250 words are requested. The committee will evaluate all abstracts for inclusion in the conference program. All submissions should be thoroughly checked for spelling and grammar before submission.

You will be asked to enter:

• preferred stream – one, two, three or four
• preferred presentation type (workshop, research presentation, project report or poster)
• authors’ names and affiliations (indicate presenting author)
• abstract title
• abstract (include objectives, methods, results and conclusion where appropriate)
• audio visual requirements
• short biography of presenter (maximum 50 words - will be used by the session chair for introduction purposes or could possibly be published in conference literature)
• for workshop abstracts, state how you will engage your audience (maximum 100 words)
• for workshop abstracts, state how your workshop will help improve skills and/or knowledge  in palliative care  (maximum 100 words)
• indication of intention to submit for the Ian Maddocks Guest Lecture 

All presenters (including poster presenters) must register for the conference.

METHOD OF SUBMISSION

Abstracts must be submitted electronically by accessing: http://www.dccam.com.au/apcc2013/call_for_abstract

Please contact the Conference Secretariat if you are unable to lodge your abstract via the website or if you have any queries.

ABSTRACT LAYOUT

• abstract title
• presenting author and their contact details (including address, telephone and email contact)
• all authors and their affiliations
• abstract text

CONFERENCE REGISTRATION

All presenters will be required to register for the conference by 30th June 2013. It will be assumed that any presenter not registered by this date has withdrawn from the program and their abstract will be removed from the handbook.

REGISTRATION FEES

Conference registration will open in March 2013. Registration fees will be displayed on the conference website.

COPYRIGHT STATEMENT

The author/s reserve/s all propriety rights such as patent rights. The author/s retain the right to use all or part of this presentation in future works of their own, such as lectures, press releases, reviews or textbooks. The presenting author is responsible for obtaining evidence of copyright clearance/authority on any items subject to copyright, which are included in this presentation.

All accepted presentations will be reproduced in the conference program and/or on the conference website.

SPONSORSHIP AND EXHIBITION

There are a number of sponsorship opportunities for organisations that wish to be involved in this event. There will also be an exhibition held concurrently with the conference. The exhibition will provide an opportunity for manufacturers and suppliers to display the latest developments and products to delegates attending the conference. If you are interested in sponsoring or exhibiting at this event, please contact apcc2013@dccam.com.au for a sponsorship and exhibition prospectus.