First AOPEER courses in Taiwan
Two groups of highly motivated learners went home satisfied and eager to learn more about the principles of clinical research after taking part in the first-ever AO Program for Education and Excellence in Research (AOPEER) courses conducted in Taipei, Taiwan, in May 2019.
Thirteen registrants participated in the 1.5-day AOPEER Principles of Clinical Research course, conducted May 19–20, 2019 at Taipei Medical University (TMU) in collaboration with AO VET, TMU, the Medical Design Association, and the Taiwan College of Veterinary Surgeons. Another 42 people participated in a condensed, one-day version of the same course on May 23 at the Grand Hyatt Taipei.
Designed by surgeons, for surgeons, AOPEER is a collection of resources, reference documents, and learning opportunities designed for health care professionals who want to learn or improve the skills they need to conduct clinical research. In the Taipei courses, organized by the AOPEER back office at AO Clinical Investigation and Documentation (AOCID), participants learned about the importance of research and evidence-based medicine (EBM), the relevant ethical considerations and guidelines for Good Clinical Practice (GCP) with a focus on the formulation of a clinical research question. Additionally, the courses offered support in working with statisticians and navigating the AOPEER platform to ensure research success.
Feedback from course participants indicated that the content is very useful. “The course helps me to build up a constructive way to design [a] clinical study, and provides…useful tools for self-learning,” one participant said. “Thanks for all the well-presented lectures…useful information…[I] will apply them to future practice,” said another participant.
AOPEER analysis of post-event feedback indicated a “perfect picture,” with highly motivated participants at both courses. The gap between their current and desired learning levels decreased substantially in the post-course assessment and their desired level of learning increased after the course. Participants were described as highly satisfied with the AOPEER course experience.
Shian-Ying Sung, PhD, chair of AO Taiwan Training Course and director of the TMU Joint Clinical Research Center chaired the May 19–20 course. Teachers were Matthew Allen, University of Cambridge (GB) and member of the AOPEER Taskforce; Tak Man Wong, Queen Mary Hospital (HK); Puwapong Nimkingratana, Maharaj Nakorn Chiangmai Hospital (TH), Max Meng-Huang Wu, TMU Hospital Department of Orthopedics (TW); Yen-Kuang Lin, TMU Biostatistics Center (TW); and Ivo Schauwecker, AO Clinical Investigation and Documentation (CH).
Mandeep Dhillon, MBBS, MS (Orth), FAMS, FRCS, professor and head of the orthopedics department and physical medicine at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh, India chaired the May 23 condensed course. Teachers were Diarmuid Murphy, National University Hospital (SG); Ian Harris, Liverpool Hospital (AU); Sameer Aggarwal, PGIMER (IN); Yih-Wen Tarng, Kaoshiung Hospital (TW); Frankie Leung, Queen Mary Hospital (HK); and Ivo Schauwecker, AO Clinical Investigation and Documentation (CH).