CALL FOR ABSTRACTS — APHA's 2020 Annual Meeting and Expo

Integrative, Complementary and Traditional Health Practices

Meeting theme: "Creating the Healthiest Nation: Preventing Violence"

Submission Deadline: Monday, July 6, 2020

The Integrative, Complementary and Traditional Health Practices (ICTHP) Section invites oral and poster presentations for the upcoming APHA 2020 annual meeting to be held in San Francisco, CA from October 24-28, 2020.  The meeting will be entirely virtual!

Topics related to this year's theme: Creating the Healthiest Nation: Preventing Violence" will receive a high priority. We are particularly interested in reports from the following types of evidence-based research: 1) pragmatic and/or implementation trials; 2) efficacy or effectiveness studies; 3) healthcare policy analyses; 4) analyses of observational studies; 5) demonstration projects; 6) public health or educational program development; and 7) systematic reviews. The work must be specifically related to integrative, complementary, and traditional health practices (e.g., acupuncture, Ayurveda, mind-body interventions, holistic nursing, massage therapy, integrative care, physical activity, energy healing, herbs, holistic nutrition, spiritual healing, yoga, tai-chi, etc.). Examples of session topics consistent with the APHA 2020 theme include:
  • Addressing Violence in Media and Society with Integrative, Complementary, and Traditional Health Practices
  • Advances in Integrative, Complementary, and Traditional Health Practice Education
  • Enhancing Safety in a Toxic World with Integrative, Complementary, and/or Traditional Health Practices
  • Harm Reduction through Non-Pharmacological Approaches
  • Integrative Health Implementation and Health Policy
  • Integrative Health and Prevention of Adverse Childhood Experiences and Violence
  • Integrative and Traditional Health Practices in the Time of COVID-19
  • Integrative, Complementary, and Traditional Health Practice Approaches in Trauma-Informed Care and/or Moral Injury
  • Integrative, Complementary, and Traditional Health Practice Approaches to Chronic Disease Management
  • Integrative, Complementary, and Traditional Health Practice Approaches to Social and Environmental Justice
  • Inter-Professional and International Collaboration in Integrative, Complementary, and Traditional Health Practice
  • Novel Integrative, Complementary, and Traditional Health Practice Interventions
  • Preventing Interpersonal Violence and Self-Harm Via Integrative, Complementary, and Traditional Health Practices
  • Strengthening Community Wellness and Prevention Using Integrative, Complementary, and Traditional Health Practices
  • Truth and Reconciliation - Traditional Medicine Intersecting Modern Healthcare
We invite relevant abstracts from our membership and interested others.  Please submit a structured abstract with background, methods, results, and discussion/conclusion. 
  • Background: Why did you do it? Why is this important to public health?
  • Methods: How did you do it?  What kind of study/investigation did you do and how did you go about it? (e.g., was it randomized trial, observational study, feasibility study, qualitative study, quality improvement study, or program evaluation). How did you analyze your results?
  • Results: Describe the sample, key findings (with numbers as appropriate, such as an odds ratio with 95% confidence interval or mean difference with confidence interval or feasibility percentages OR with qualitative themes), and any other findings you wish to highlight.
  • Discussion (and/or Conclusion): Put findings into context and note limitations/strengths.  Why are your findings important to public health and/or what does your study/evaluation add to the to what is known on this topic?

Have questions?  Contact us before the due date for feedback: (Kim)  faurot@med.unc.edu; (John) john.s.finnell@uth.tmc.edu

 Abstracts are judged on clarity of subject matter, importance and originality, quality of methodology and supporting data/philosophy, relationship to the ICTHP section, and contribution to public health. Highest rated abstracts, based on blinded peer review, are generally selected and placed in sessions according to the overall program plan for that year. Abstracts may be submitted as a group. However, they will be reviewed individually and will be placed in sessions, if accepted, according to the discretion of the Program Chairs. Abstracts that do not comply with the above mentioned requirements will be rejected upfront and may not be reviewed.

Deadline for Abstract Submission: Sunday, March 1, 2020 at 11:59 PST. Please comply with the following APHA guidelines for abstract submissions: Abstracts should be no more than 500 words. All presenters must be individual members of APHA in order to present. All presenters must register for the meeting. Abstracts cannot be presented or published in any journal prior to the APHA Annual Meeting. Include learning objectives along with the complete abstract.

APHA-ICTHP Student Research Awards
are awarded to the top three best student abstracts. The criteria for awards include the submission of completed work in a structured format. Additional detailed criteria will be emailed to all members. The awardees must be primary members of ICTHP.

  • Continuing Education Credit:
    APHA values the ability to provide continuing education credit to physicians, nurses, health educators, and those certified in public health at its annual meeting. Please complete all required information when submitting an abstract so members can claim credit for attending your session. These credits are necessary for members to keep their licenses and credentials.

    For a session to be eligible for Continuing Education Credit, each presenter, panelist, discussant, and/or faculty must provide:

    1) an abstract free of trade and/or commercial product names;

    2) at least one MEASURABLE SINGLE outcome (“to understand” or “to learn” are not measurable outcomes and compound outcomes are not acceptable). Use ONLY the following Measurable Action Verbs:

    Explain, Demonstrate, Analyze, Formulate, Discuss, Compare, Differentiate, Describe, Name, Assess, Evaluate, Identify, Design, Define or List.

    3) A signed Conflict of Interest Disclosure Form with a relevant qualification statement; Example of Acceptable Biographical Qualification Statement: (I have been the principal or co-principal of multiple federally funded grants focusing on the epidemiology of drug abuse, HIV prevention and co-occurring mental and drug use disorders. Among my scientific interests has been the development of strategies for preventing HIV and STDs in out-of-treatment drug users.) Please note that I am the Principle Investigator of this study is NOT an acceptable qualification statement.

4) All continuing education learning content must be of sound science or professional practice and serve to maintain, develop, or increase the knowledge, skills and professional competence of the health professional. Learning content should be evidence-based if available. A list of over 30 areas will be provided online for you to choose from. You will be asked to choose at least one or up to 6 areas that your presentation will address.

For program questions, contact the program planners listed below. Please address any questions regarding the Integrative Complementary and Traditional Health Practices to: Kim Faurot,  faurot@med.unc.edu or John Finnell, john.s.finnell@uth.tmc.edu


Ready?

Program Planner Contact Information:

Kim Faurot, PA, PhD
Program on Integrative Medicine, Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
336 Emergency Room Drive
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7200
Phone: 919-966-3578
faurot@med.unc.edu

and
John Finnell, ND MPH LAc
Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
South Texas Veterans Healthcare System
7400 Merton Minter
San Antonio, TX 78229
Phone: 512-638-0145
dfinnell@gmail.com