Research Showcased at Annual Provincial Health Research Day

The Provincial Health Research Committee (PHRC) hosted its third annual Provincial Health Research Day at Lentegeur Hospital’s Conference Centre on 4 October 2013.

The PHRC is the provincial counterpart to the National Health Research Committee established in terms of the National Health Act of 2003. The committee has broad terms of reference directed at promoting the contribution of research to societal health and welfare.

The purpose of the Research Day was to bring together a diverse audience of researchers, service managers and healthcare providers from the Western Cape Provincial and City of Cape Town Health Departments, as well as community representatives, academics and students, with the aim of promoting:

• Awareness and understanding of the research carried out in health services in the Western Cape and the impact it has on the health services in the province
• Research collaboration between researchers, services and other interested parties
• An agenda for research of direct interest to the services
• Ways of improving the translation of research findings into policy and practice

The theme for the 2013 Provincial Health Research Day was Patient-centred Experience and Quality of Care.

The committee assists the health departments with their approval process to grant access for research carried out in facilities under their control. The approval is necessary to ensure that these facilities are able to accommodate the proposed research activity, science and ethics approval has been received and to facilitate a cooperative environment for the research to be conducted.

The committee aims to:

• Improve the feedback of results of projects undertaken at provincial health facilities provincial managers
• Promote the conduct of health research in the province
• Continue the process of assisting the province to set research priorities

The Annual Provincial Research Day encourages and promotes research in the province by providing a platform for the showcasing of research conducted in the province and creating an opportunity for community engagement.