Call for Abstracts

  Submission deadline for poster and oral paper presentations: January 15, 2016

You may also download a pdf copy of these guidelines

Hospice Palliative Care Ontario is now accepting abstracts for workshops, posters, and oral papers for the 2016 Annual Conference. The conference will be held Sunday, April 17 to Tuesday, April 19, 2016 at the Sheraton Parkway Toronto North Hotel and Convention Centre, Richmond Hill, Ontario.

Abstracts reflecting evidence-based practice, best practice principles, clinical advancements, hospice palliative care research, innovative programming, system design and planning, and health system leadership will be considered. Abstracts must be categorized into the following streams:

  • Research, Scientific/Advanced Clinical Practice
  • Leadership/Systems/Integration
  • Volunteer Management
  • Psychosocial/Spiritual/Bereavement/Complementary Therapy

The primary presenter (one person only) will receive a reduced registration fee of $400 for the three-day conference.

General Guidelines and Instructions for Abstract Submissions

  1. Abstracts must be submitted online at hpco.ca
  2. A maximum of three (3) submissions will be accepted by any one first author.
  3. Abstracts are to be written in English, in clear concise language, and to be no more than 250 words, using standard abbreviations and key words. Please use proper case and do not use all capitals.
  4. Include author(s) post-nominal initials, credentials, designations, and other affiliations in the biographic sketch section of the submission process.
  5. Only the primary presenter is eligible to receive the reduced registration fee of $400.
  6. Authors/presenters whose papers have been accepted grant HPCO permission to list their name, affiliations, and abstract in the conference program materials, both in print and online.
  7. The primary presenter/first author of accepted submissions must attend the conference and is required to register and pay a reduced registration fee of $400 by February 15, 2016. All additional authors/presenters may register at the regular conference rates.

Presentations will be cancelled if the primary presenter’s
registration fee is not received by February 15, 2016.

Workshop guidelines

  • Workshop sessions will be one hour and 15 minutes in length (inclusive of a 5 to 10 minute question period). A limited number of spots will be available for more in-depth workshops (2-1/2 hour sessions) and will be scheduled in two consecutive parts on the same day. Please indicate the length of your workshop on your submission form.
  • Workshop sessions should be interactive and focus on outcomes, practical implications and impact on interdisciplinary patient/family centred care and/or program or service delivery.
  • Workshop abstracts must include three expected learning outcomes for participants; a comprehensive summary and description of the workshop; learning level (intermediate or advanced); training methods; the intended audience of the workshop and a description of the skills and/or knowledge participants will gain from the workshop and how the knowledge is applicable in their community.
  • Workshop presenters must provide a brief biographical sketch (100 words).

Oral paper guidelines

  • Oral paper presentations must be 15 minutes in length followed by 5 minutes of discussion and will be moderated.
  • Oral papers are limited to two (2) presenters per paper during the presentation.

Poster guidelines

  • Posters will be designed to fit a poster board surface 4′ high by 8′ wide.Posters will be displayed throughout the conference.
  • Author(s)/presenter names, degrees, organizational affiliations, city, province/state and country must be listed as briefly as possible.
  • Scientific abstracts should specify study/program objectives, methods, results and conclusions.
  • Abstracts describing projects currently in progress and lacking data analysis will not be accepted.
  • Literature review papers will not be considered.

Abstract review and selection criteria All submissions will be evaluated by an Abstract Review Committee and accepted based upon the following criteria:

  • relevance and significance of topic to hospice palliative care
  • applicability of innovative/leading or best practice solutions to current issues in hospice palliative care
  • based on evidence and/or innovative hospice palliative care research
  • presentation of practical tools for application in community-based hospice palliative care
  • written well/clearly communicated.

Workshops will be selected based on the originality, impact on the hospice palliative care community, community-based outcomes, educational objectives and/or scientific merit.

Acceptance or rejection of abstract submissions will be communicated by  December 31, 2015 for workshops and by January 31, 2016 for poster and oral paper presentations. 

When you are ready to submit an abstract, please use the link below. You will be redirected to HPCO’s online abstract submission system at hpco2016.exordo.com

You will be asked for your email address and then you will create your own password.  Passwords from prior conference years are invalid.

Next Step: Submit Your Abstract >

 

For information regarding abstract submissions, please contact:
Teresa Sottile, Conference Program Coordinator
Hospice Palliative Care Ontario 416-304-1477 or 1-800-349-3111 ext. 23.