SEVENTH WORLD IPCRG CONFERENCE, ATHENS 21–24 MAY 2014
The programme is now available and has been very well received, (see http://www.ipcrg2014.org/programme-information/programme/). Online registration and abstract submission are open http://www.ipcrg2014.org/abstract-submission/ abstract deadline is 10 January 2014. We encourage you to book flights and hotels early to take advantage of the best deals. For travel information check the following site http://www.ipcrg2014.org/general-information/travel/ and for registration and accommodation information check http://www.ipcrg2014.org/registration-accomodation/.
UNLOCK
UNLOCK (Uncovering and Noting Long-term Outcomes in COPD and asthma to enhance Knowledge) is an international collaboration between primary care researchers to coordinate and share datasets of relevant diagnostic and follow-up variables for COPD and asthma management in primary care. It was set up by members of the IPCRG. We will be hosting a meeting of the UNLOCK Group at the end of November. Due to a new grant from Novartis, if you now have primary care datasets in COPD and/or asthma that meet our minimum inclusion criteria and you wish to participate in UNLOCK studies please post a comment on the UNLOCK space on our web platform: http://www.theipcrg.org/display/RESUNL/About+UNLOCK
Minimum inclusion criteria:
Have an independently managed COPD or asthma dataset that is funded
The dataset is from a primary care population that has given informed consent as locally appropriate
Is longitudinal in nature
The dataset includes a minimum set of variables including symptoms, lung function and quality of life
FRESH AIR UGANDA
Take a look at our video documentary of FRESH AIR Uganda. It is a fantastic illustration of how to get research started in low income countries and the impact on local people when they become informed about obstructive lung disease and the impact of smoke on their and their children's health. See http://www.theipcrg.org/display/RESFAU/About+ FRESH+ AIR+ Uganda for the video and Letter Number 7.
DIFFICULT TO MANAGE ASTHMA
A whole package of free resources is now available, including the Desktop Helper in nine languages, a video describing how to use SIMPLES and the position paper that opens with ‘What action would you take to stop 10 jumbo jets crashing every week of the year, to prevent the deaths of nearly 700 people on board each time, when regular systematic checks of each aircraft could virtually eliminate the problem?’
http://www.theipcrg.org/display/DIFFMANAST/Home+-+ Difficult+ to+ manage+ asthma
FLU AT@GLANCE
We are pleased to offer you Flu At@Glance, a series of flu abstracts to motivate clinicians to influence their patients to be vaccinated against flu. We will load a new abstract to the Headline on our home page http://www.theipcrg.org every week and tweet the link. For an example of the first, see Flu At@Glance web page. It is now in its second year in Israel, supported by the Israeli Ministry of Health, leading to acceleration in vaccination rates. It builds on our tried and tested format of Respiratory At@Glance. Each abstract is reviewed by an IPCRG team before publication. We appreciate it is only useful for the northern hemisphere at this time of year, but hope for those who find it useful you will circulate to colleagues. Winter is, however, coming to the Southern Hemisphere.