CAPM&R Research Committee
Report to the Executive: April 30, 2003

There are a number of ongoing or new issues affecting the Research Committee, about which the Executive should be aware.

1. Terms of Reference. As requested by the Executive, the Research Committee has drafted new Terms of Reference. These have recently been circulated to the Committee (copy attached). We expect to have a final version available by the end of the June 2003 meeting. If you have a template that you would like us to use, or any feedback on the content, please let me know.

2. Committee Chair and Vice Chair. The current Chair (Lee Kirby, Halifax) will complete his term of office in 2003. Ming Chan (Edmonton) became the Vice Chair of the committee in June 2002 and is scheduled to become Chair 2003-2006. We propose that Dr. Guy Trudel (Ottawa) become the Vice Chair 2003-2006 and Chair 2006-2009.

3. CAMP&R Research List-Serve. There has been good feedback regarding the usefulness of this simple e-mail distribution list. We have suggested that the CAPM&R secretariat manage this, and this has been agreed to but not yet implemented. Anyone interested in posting a message to the list-serve could do so by e-mailing the CAPM&R Secretariat or the Research Committee Chair (who would forward it, if appropriate, to the CAPM&R Secretariat for posting). Traffic is light, usually 1-2 messages per week, requiring ~1 minute to post.

The major advantages to having the Secretariat host this distribution list are for continuity, as the chairmanship of the committee changes, and to keep the e-mail addresses current. It is common for mail to be returned as “undeliverable” when list-serve members change their e-mail addresses without notifying us. The Secretariat is more likely to be aware of current e-mail addresses than the Chair of the Research Committee.

4. CAPM&R Web site. Regarding the Publications List on the web site, the Committee has recommended the following: in March of each year, a call should be placed (by the Communications Committee or Secretariat) for CAPM&R members to submit a list of publications that they had published in the previous calendar year (i.e., no articles that were “in press” or “submitted”). Full papers, textbook chapters, textbooks, abstracts, proceedings and letters-to-the-editor would be acceptable, but listed separately. When each year’s new list is put on the web site, the old list should be removed or archived. It was felt that the responsibility for these activities more properly lay with the Communications Committee than the Research Committee. It was noted that such a list would be useful to CAPM&R members for communication purposes and also for new fund-raising initiatives that are being considered.

5. Research programs at Annual Meetings. The Committee agreed that it would be willing to organize a symposium for an upcoming annual meeting. When the Scientific Program Committee allows us to hold another symposium, a new needs assessment will be performed. It was agreed that such a symposium should focus on the process of doing research rather than specific content areas, the other aspects of the meeting providing a good forum for content discussions. Suggested symposium topics included “How to Search the Literature” and “Evidence-based Guidelines”. The Committee will await direction from the Scientific Program Committee.

6. Research Contest for Residents

a. The 7 submissions for 2003 were excellent. The winner this year is Dr. Russell O’Conner, from Vancouver, for his paper “National survey of Canadian physiatrists 2: continuing professional development, perceived usefulness, and learning needs”.

b. Last year, we expressed our concern that the name of the prize had been changed to the “CAPM&R/Medtronic prize”. The reasons for our concern were documented in our June 2002 Minutes. We are unaware of whether this has been dealt with.

7. Research Contests for Students

a. There were two submissions this year, both excellent. The 2003 winner is Anita Mountain, from Halifax, for her paper “The Wheelchair Skills Test: validity of an algorithm-based questionnaire version.”

b. The winner currently receives only a certificate and complimentary registration. This is out of keeping with what is received by the winners of the Resident Research Contest and the Student Essay Contest. This discrepancy needs to be addressed.

8. Recognition of Research Excellence

a. In 2003, the 5 best abstracts have been selected for oral as well as poster presentation at the June meeting. The best presentation will be recognized, a practice that began in 2002.

b. At the 2003 Research Committee meeting, we will be considering a new proposal for a “Research Paper of the Year” contest.

9. Budget

a. The Research Committee was awarded a budget of $300 for 2002-2003, to cover the expenses related to contest plagues and secretariat time.

b. The Research Contest for Residents costs (~$1,800 + complimentary registration) are paid for from another budget. We would prefer to have this money considered a Research Committee line item.

c. For 2003-2004, we would like an increase in our budget:

• An additional $1,000 for the Research Contest for Students Contest to permit a small cash reward, a plaque and some assistance for travel and accommodation.

• An additional $100 for a plaque for the winner of the “Paper of the Year” contest.

Respectfully submitted,
R. Lee Kirby, MD, FRCPC
Chair