The Philippine Health Research Ethics Board (PHREB) launched the 2017 National Ethical Guidelines for Health and Health-Related Research (NEGHHR) during the 11th Philippine National Health Research Week held on 24 August 2017 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC).

With the continuing rapid developments in health and health-related science and technology and the rights and welfare of all individuals and communities involved as participants in mind, the existing ethical guidelines was updated to ensure adherence to local, national, and international principles, and values and respect for Filipino morals and culture.

The new edition seeks to address the question as to what constitutes health research while filling the gaps in areas not sufficiently covered in earlier editions. Likewise, it gives due course to the nuances in principles and regulations as they apply to different fields, types, and methodologies of research. Recognizing the broad understanding of health and the dimensions of disease and illness, the Guidelines also features a detailed section on health-related social science research.

The notable changes in the 2017 guidelines are the title, section revisions (e.g., responsibilities of various stakeholders, elements of research ethics), new added guidelines (e.g., research using online and digital tools, mental health research), and amended guidelines (e.g., clinical research, research involving IPs).

Speaking at the launch were Dr. Marita V.T. Reyes Chair, Ad Hoc Committee for Updating National Ethical Guidelines and Dr. Leonardo de Castro, Co-Chair, and PHREB Chair. “It (NEGHHR) reflects the faithfulness of PHREB to its responsibility to ethics in health research,” said Dr. Reyes.

Other members of the ad hoc committee are Dr. Ricardo M. Manalastas, Jr., Chair, PHREB Committee on Information Dissemination, Training, and Advocacy (CIDTA), Prof. Edlyn B. Jimenez, Coordinator, UP Manila Research Ethics Board (UPM REB), Dr. Rosario Angeles T. Alora, Head, Bioethics Committee, University of Santo Tomas Hospital, Dr. Cecilia V. Tomas, Member, PHREB Committee on Standards and Accreditation (CSA), and Dr. Evangeline O. Santos, Clinical Associate Professor, College of Medicine, UPM Member, PHREB CSA.

According to Dr. Jaime C. Montoya, Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) Director, NEGHHR is definitely an affirmation of PHREB’s efforts to address emerging ethical issues in the conduct of health research and he commended the dedicated efforts of PHREB and its Ad Hoc Committee members in leading the revision of the guidelines.

The revised Guidelines shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette. Download the 2017 National Ethical Guidelines for Health and Health-Related Research (NEGHHR) at http://www.ethics.healthresearch.ph/

(L-R) Dr. Alice Joan G. Ferrer of UP Visayas, Dr. Elinda C. Palaganas of UP Baguio, Dr. Maria Lourdes K . Otayza of Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center, and Prof. Fatima Castillo of UP Manila conclude the first half of the contributed papers session entitled "Alternative Gender-Aware Indices for Measuring Poverty: Implication for Healthcare for the Poor" by awarding certificates of appreciation to the speakers, Dr. Palaganas and Prof. Castillo.

In the recently concluded 11th Philippine National Health Research System (PNHRS) Week, researchers presented a paper discussing an alternative way of measuring poverty through different predetermined factors.

The research paper entitled, “Alternative Gender-Aware Indices for Measuring Poverty: Implication for Healthcare for the Poor” was part of the contributed papers session of the PNHRS Week on 24 August at the Philippine International Convention Center.

Unlike the index used by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which use daily income and household as unit of measurement, the new poverty index, called Individual Deprivation Measure (IDM), provides a personal account of poverty in every assessed individual.

Through a three-phased, multi-year, multi-country, interdisciplinary study, the IDM takes into consideration individual factors such as age, gender, environment, and other key areas of life like access to food, water, shelter, health services, education, proper sanitation, and work and livelihood.

To develop the IDM, participants of the research were asked to enumerate items and aspects that they believe could help them escape poverty. The top 15 key areas ranked according to importance was used as the basis for creating the IDM.

With the new index, a new perspective on poverty can be considered by governments and international organizations in developing programs and policies for the poor.

 The study is a collaborative effort of the Australian National University, in partnership with the International Women’s Development Agency (IWDA), and five other Indo-Pacific countries which will use the IDM as a benchmark for global poverty.

For more information, please visit the IWDA and IDM websites..

PASAY CITY, Metro Manila- In the recent “Rallying Communicators for Science, Technology, and Innovation in Health” pre-conference session of the 11^th Philippine National Health Research System (PNHRS), communication expert Dr. Clarissa David talked about ways to communicate health research and engage the public.

Dr. Clarissa David, a professor from the University of the Philippines (UP) College of Mass Communication, said that health communication is already an established and prominent field of work as it concerns everyone. Here are some notes from Dr. David to reach the public, communicate effectively, and make an impact.

Two objectives: individual behavioral change and “health issue public”

You should identify priority audiences and create appealing messages for these audiences. Make special segments with specific interest in health, find listeners of health research, and convene them in a channel.

The media are your conduit

Media are your only mass-market channel to general public. Talking to them means talking to the public as well.

Ask yourself: Whose role is it?

Take some time to ask what your real objectives are and the roles everyone should play. Can you do the communication work? Is there someone better equipped to do the task? How can you support and work with them?

Study and know your audience

Remember that communication is audience-oriented. Not everyone can be your audience. You should identify key audiences and craft strategy and message to reach them. 

Content is king

You should create your main message and establish channels to bring your audiences.  Remember that you don’t need to explain the whole research paper as most of them are not interested.

Define your voice

Think strategically of the kind of identity you want to take on. Remember that identity and voice are important to audiences.

Sustain public engagement in health systems research

You should create and maintain a community of practice in the health research system. Share best practices through conventions and fora. Gather participation from communication practitioners and scholars in private sectors, media, and academe.

PNHRS is a gathering of different stakeholders in health research and development to contribute research-based solutions to health problems. The 11^th PNHRS Week was held on 22-23 August 2017.

 Source: PCHRD Website

Written by Ladylove May B. Baurile

http://www.pchrd.dost.gov.ph/index.php/news/in-the-news 

PASAY CITY, Metro Manila- To further improve their strategies on research utilization, the regional consortia of the Philippine National Health Research System (PNHRS) gathered yesterday in a session at Hotel Jen Manila.

The session entitled “Rallying Communicators for Science, Technology, and Innovation in Health” aims to gather members for the Society of Health Research Communicators (SHARE), a new program of the System to ensure that research contributes to evidence-informed health policies and actions.

SHARE is a community of communicators who share health research stories, advocacies, and local and national initiatives. The community will reinforce the research dissemination activities of the regional consortia of PNHRS.

The first part of the session was allotted for discussions wherein three communication and health research experts were invited to guide the participants namely Dr. Clarissa David of the University of the Philippines (UP) College of Mass Communication, Dr. Mary Ann Lansang of the UP College of Medicine, and Dr. Iris Thiele Isip-Tan of the UP Manila Medical Informatics Unit.

In the afternoon, members of the regional consortia engaged in a discussion to form, gather, and sustain the SHARE community.

In her welcome remarks, Ms. Merlita Opeña, Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) Division Chief, stressed that research utilization is an important process in the Philippine National Health Research System (PNHRS).

“I would like to emphasize that research utilization focuses on the impact or benefit of knowledge to our stakeholders. It is about what the people will gain from the research result or how they will make use of the knowledge or information.” Ms. Opeña explained.

The “Rallying Communicators for Science, Technology, and Innovation in Health” is part of the 11^th Philippine National Health Research System (PNHRS) Week celebration. PCHRD is the lead coordinator of the System.

Source: PCHRD Website

Written by Ladylove May B. Baurile

http://www.pchrd.dost.gov.ph/index.php/news/in-the-news