Research:
Cornerstone of Evidence-based Medicine
Research is the cornerstone of evidence-based medicine – an essential guide in clinical practice, as we champion the current best evidence in decision-making for our patient care. Advocating this mantra, the indefatigable and exemplary Philippine Academy of Rehabilitation Medicine (PARM) Research Subcommittee organized the 2023 edition of the “PARM Write Right” series. Under the tutelage of the Secretary of the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME), Dr. Jose Florencio F. Lapena, Jr., the subcommittee spearheaded workshops which guided the PARM consultants and residents in conducting their research. Last April 2, 2023, the Case Report Writing Short Course was held at the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) Auditorium, with PARM fellows, diplomates, associates, and residents across the archipelago in attendance. From the National Capital Region, Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao – Filipino physiatrists advocated research as an essential armamentarium in clinical practice and training. Implementation of the Case Report (CaRe) guidelines from the Enhancing the QUAlity and Transparency Of health Research (EQUATOR) Network was instructed by Dr. Lapena, which was succeeded by a workshop on actual case reports.
Continuing the Write Right series, the Original Articles Writing Short Course 2023 was held last June 3, 2023 also at the PMA Auditorium. Dr. Lapena reprised his lectures, which now focused on the guidelines in writing original articles. Written by the person/s or author/s who conducted the observations or experiments, these scholarly studies encompass randomized controlled trials, cohort, case-control, or cross-sectional research. The workshop included discussion on the introduction, methodology, results and discussion format; authorship and acknowledgments; conflicts of interests and disclosures; title, title page, abstract, and keywords; citing and writing the references; and plagiarism. This research program was granted 7 Continuing Professional Development (CPD) units by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).
Completing the trifecta of the Write Right series was the Peer Review and Critical Appraisal Research Workshop held last July 23, 2023 at Getz Pharma, The Rockwell Business Center, Pasig City. PARM consultants across the nation converged in this program which highlighted the critical peer review process and appraisal by the peer reviewers of the research manuscripts submitted by the principal investigators. The past, present, and future peer reviewers of PARM Proceedings, the official PARM journal actively participated in the workshop which utilized actual research manuscripts submitted to the PARM Proceedings editorial board for peer review and publication. Dr. Lapena guided the physiatrists in this impactful workshop. This research program was granted 6 CPD units by the PRC.
After completing the case reports and posters, the residents-in-training participated in RENASCENCE: PARM Midyear Scientific Research Forum 2023. The principal investigators presented their scholarly studies at Marriott Clark, Pampanga last September 1, 2023, with the support of their supervising investigators, research faculty, and training faculty. The esteemed board of judges encompassed the President of the Philippine Association of Medical Journal Editors (PAMJE), Dr. Cecilia Nelia Maramba-Lazarte, and hometown physicians from Clark, Pampanga, Dr. Cherie Clemente and Dr. Jose Eduardo Duya. The Poster Category winners were awarded their Certificates of Recognition during the PARM Exemplars Awards last February 24, 2024 at Novotel Manila, Araneta City, Quezon City. In 3rd Place was Janina Mariz Alejano, MD from the University of Santo Tomas Hospital, followed by Alfred Adams Angulo, MD from the Philippine Orthopedic Center, in 2nd Place. In 1st Place was Myrielle Marie Madayag, MD from the Philippine General Hospital. Moreover, the 1st Place winner for the Case Report Category was also awarded his Certificate of Recognition in the person of Enrique Puentespina, MD, who is also from the Philippine General Hospital.
Training institutions’ department chairs, training officers, research coordinators, training and research faculty, supervising investigators and co-authors, consultants, residents, and alumni attended in support of the principal investigators in the research forum. Indeed, this is renascence – the revival of the culture of research in our academy, igniting the passion in the fellows, diplomates, associates, and residents, as exemplified in this research forum.
After completing the original articles, the residents-in-training also participated in RENAISSANCE: PARM Annual Scientific Research Forum 2024. The principal investigators presented their scholarly studies at Novotel Manila, Araneta City, Quezon City last February 22, 2024, with the support of their supervising investigators, research faculty, and training faculty. The esteemed board of judges encompassed the Overall Chair of the Organizing Committee of the International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (ISPRM) 2024 World Congress in Sydney, Australia – a distinguished physiatrist all the way from Australia, Dr. Steven Faux; President of the), PAMJE President Dr. Cecilia Nelia Maramba-Lazarte, and the Secretary of WAME, Dr. Jose Florencio Lapena Jr. The winners of the Original Articles Category will be given their Certificates of Recognition during the next PARM Research Forum.
CHAMPIONING RENAISSANCE. Seated from Left to Right: Jose Florencio Lapena, Jr., MD, Cecilia Nelia Maramba-Lazarte, MD, and Steven Faux, MD. Standing from Left to Right, Organizing Committee & Research Forum Presenters: Alex Zander Bondoc, MD, Edwin Joseph Agsaoay, MD, Melecio Pena III, MD, Maria Belinda Cristina Fidel, MD, Jeffrey Arboleda, MD, Irvin Yu, MD, Lorenzo Martin Dizon, MD, Seann Bregendale Silangan, MD, Jesselmark Lived, MD, Dorothy Dy Ching Bing-Agsaoay, MD, Joseph Emmanuel Barcelon, MD, Frances Ann Carlos, MD, Edgar David Bionat, MD, Hiyasmine Mangubat, MD, and Gilmore Senolos, MD.
