JUNE 19, 2013

Research Day Program (PRELIMINARY)

Distinguished Lecture Presentation - Regatta Ballroom
“Primary Care and Public Health Collaboration: The Time is Ripe”
Ruta Valaitis, McMaster University (see brief bio)

Workshops: - Regatta Ballroom & Dockside 3
Workshop #1:     
On the Applications of Time Series Methods in Primary Care and Health Services Research
Facilitator: Rahim Moineddin, University of Toronto (see brief bio)

• This introductory workshop gives an overview of time series analysis methods used in primary care and health services research. Time series methods are being used increasingly often in primary care research to quantify and assess the impact of national or province wide interventions on health outcomes measured at population level. Formally, a time series is a sequence of observations made over time. With the data measured over time, observations tend to be correlated with one another and therefore the standard statistical methods for estimation and inference (hypothesis testing and confidence intervals) are not valid. Time series models take into account the correlation structure present in the data and yield more valid inferences than classical statistical procedures. In this workshop we provide a heuristic overview of time series concepts and methods as well as applications of time series in primary care and health services research using real data sets. These methods include: descriptive and explanatory methods for time series, time trend analysis, seasonality, decomposition of a time series, ARIMA models, regression models with correlated residuals, prediction, and interrupted time series. Real data sets will be used for illustration. This workshop is interactive. We will introduce specific research problems, and their statistical data, and we will ask participants for appropriate methods to address the research question at hand. Following a thorough discussion of the problem, we will describe the adequate time series method(s) which are most suitable for addressing these problems.  Some of the examples and data sets are from administrative data.

Workshop #2:     
Social Network Analysis: An Introduction to Concept, Development and Delivery
Facilitator: Dr. Anita Kothari, School of Health Studies, Western University (see brief bio)

• A network is defined as a group of three or more individuals or organizations connected in non-hierarchical ways to facilitate achievement of common goals. Analyzing the connections and relationships, such as information sharing relationships, between different units in a social network can be useful for understanding patterns of interactions (where does information flow efficiently?) and targeting interventions (who is an information gatekeeper?). In this workshop we will discuss the concept of networks, nodes and ties, as well as the two approaches – whole and egocentric - to social network analysis. We will discuss how to develop a SNA questionnaire, drawing on the literature related to SNA reliability and validity. Finally, we will discuss ways to deliver the findings, via sociograms and other metrics, back to those who are interested in the results. No background knowledge is required for this introductory session