We are pleased to offer a unique series of presentations identified as the Special Sessions for Training in Research and Evaluation. These presentations are designed to provide technical training on planning and conducting rigorous research, quality improvement, and program evaluation in real-world health care settings. The primary focus of these presentations should be equipping attendees with practical knowledge and skills via “how to” lessons, rather than simply presenting study results. Data from studies/evaluations should be presented as a vehicle to illustrate and teach specific approaches to study design as well as data collection, analysis, and interpretation. Presentations must provide participants with a training experience that instructs them on the knowledge/methods/skills used to obtain any data presented and the ways the results can be applied to improve practice.

Sample Topics include

• Beginner or intermediate-level technical training for attendees interested in initiating and facilitating more rigorous quality improvement, program evaluation, or research projects that can help contribute to local practice change efforts or produce generalizable knowledge
• Advanced technical training for attendees already engaged in research and evaluation projects who are interested in adapting their skills to fit new initiatives, such as Patient Centered Outcomes Research or Implementation Science
• Presentations that help attendees identify relevant research and evaluation topics that are important to the integrated health care field and align with emerging issues in patient care and health care policy at their site