Why this workshop?
Every health care worker is expected to practice evidence based medicine. Evidence regarding new treatment comes from appropriate research and right interpretation of research studies. Such interpretation has to be necessarily based on the statistical evaluation and not on the researcher's belief or perception. Hence the workshop covers many other facets of modern methodology of research and statistics.

Workshop Objectives
The aims of this workshop is to develop research skills and to enable them to carry out research and understand the research publications.

• To give an advanced exposure to the participants about the research and development.
• To develop acquaintance with intensive techniques and skills of research process.
• To familiarize the art and style of writing a research report.

Technical Sessions

As part of the application process, the participants are requested to describe at least one of their research questions for classroom discussion.

The sesions include didactic lectures, problem solving sessions, hands-on training, participants’ presentation and group work. 

• Importance of Research and Research Methods - Quantitative & Qualitative research: This will cover Introduction to clinical & operations research, Importance of basic research, Translational research - bench to bedside, basic elements of a research projects, Generating research hypothesis & Qualitative research (Focus group discussions & Instrument development).
• Ethics in Research: This will include the functioning of Research committees and Institutional Review Boards followed by the discussion about Medical ethics, codes of medical ethics and the guidelines.
• Introduction to Epidemiology & Biostatistics: Measures of disease frequency, Overview of Observational & Experimental study designs, Concepts of confounding-interaction & bias, Meta analysis, Descriptive & Inferential Statistics, Sampling techniques & Sample size.
• Research Publication: importance of Literature review & Critical appraisal of Medical literature/ Medline search and publishing a research paper.

Venue and Facilities
The course will be held at Lions Aravind Institute of Community Ophthalmology (LAICO), Madurai, India. It is fully equipped with an auditorium, class rooms and facilities for group discussions.

Madurai is well connected by air, rail and road to Chennai, Bangalore, Bombay and Trivandrum. Nearby tourist attractions include Kodaikanal - a hill resort, Rameswaram-a temple town, Thekady - a game sanctuary, and Kanyakumari -the southernmost tip of India.

The climate is pleasant during August. The days are generally warm and nights are comfortable.

E-Mail facilities are available at LAICO Building; the participants can use this facility during the break times. The public phone booths for making interstate and international calls (which are indicated by STD and ISD) are located on many streets near to the course venue.

Participants Selection
The success of this course depends significantly on the quality of discussions and interaction between participants who learn not only from the faculty, but equally through sharing of their own experiences and problems. We are therefore seeking candidates whose responsibilities and experience will contribute to an informed and diverse debate. The following criteria will be considered in the process of accepting the applications:

• Medical and allied health professionals
• Postgraduates and fellows from ophthalmology and other fields
• Non-medical professionals involved in research/teaching
• Postgraduates in management, rehabilitation, social work or sociology who are actively involved in research/plan to coordinate research at their institution

As the course will be presented in English, all applicants will be expected to communicate effectively in this language.

Fee Structure
The fee for participating in the program is Rs. 2,500  for Indian & Nepalee; US$ 250 for overseas participants. The fee will cover lecture notes, case materials, other course materials and lunch during the course.Accommodation and travel expenses are the responsibility of the participants.

Payment Procedures
The program fee has to be sent upon the receipt of the invoice on confirmation of your selection. India and Nepal candidates can send the Demand Draft in favour of LAICO payable at Madurai. Oversease candidates can pay through wire transfer, the dtails will be given in the invoice. Payment is due within two weeks of the Invoice date. If admission is within 2 weeks to the start of the programme, payment is to be made on the spot. 100% of payment will be refunded if we receive your cancellatin request 2 weeks prior to the programme start date. 25% of cancellation fee is applicable if we receive your cancellation request less than 14 days prior to the programme start date. 

Admission Procedures
This course is open to all countries in South East Asia Region and African countries. Admission is limited to about 35 participants and will be made on first come basis subject to meeting the eligibility criteria. The application and Demand Draft should be sent to the course coordinator before 10th August 2009 and applications received after 10th August 2009 will be reviewed and accepted subject to space availability.

Accommodation
Accommodation can be arranged at the request of the
participant in the following Hotels.

Hotel Annapoorna (old) (2 mins walk from the venue)
Single Non A/c Rs. 420 /-
Twin Sharing A/c Rs. 715/-
Phone : 0452 - 2526425

Hotel Sri Annapoorna Towers (2 mins walk from the Venue)
Single A/c Rs. 1200/-
Double A/c Rs. 1350/-
Phone : 0452 - 4514436/-

Hotel Vimas (5 mins walk from the venue)
Single Non A/c Rs. 252/-
Twin Sharing Non A/c Rs. 400/-
Twin Sharing A/c Rs. 677/-
Phone : 0452 - 2524711

Participants can select the hotel and inform preference of their room to the course coordinator to book in advance. The participants are encouraged to select one of the above hotels for their stay to facilitate group assignments in the evenings and to arrange logistic support as a group. The twin sharing accommodation can be arranged based on the availability of the partner. Payment for accommodation, food & other expenses should be borne directly by the participants.

Transport
Local Transport support will be arranged for the participants to pickup and drop from the hotel to the course venue during the course period.