Call for Abstracts and Submission Guidelines
The Scientific Committee of the Canadian Lymphedema Framework (CLF) invites abstract submissions for presentation at the 2023 National Lymphedema Conference being held November 3-4, 2023, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Scientific Committee is Co-Chaired by Dr. David Keast and Dr. Anna Towers.
Key Details and Deadlines:
Deadline for submissions: Friday, June 30, 2023
Decisions communicated no later than: Friday, August 4, 2023
Selected presenters must register by: Friday, August 25, 2023*
Word count: 300-word limit
Submission site: https://www.canadalymph.ca/submission/
The CLF provides a supportive conference environment for graduate students, lymphedema clinicians and researchers and encourages both new and experienced presenters to submit an abstract that showcases work being done in lymphedema research or clinical practice. Submissions are not limited to researchbased abstracts. If you have a special interest in a relevant topic or have a special case study, we encourage you to submit and share your work with your colleagues. We also welcome abstracts in all stages of the research process including study protocols, feasibility and pilot studies, and clinical case series. Suggested topics related to lymphedema/chronic edema include:
Populations:
• Cancer-related lymphedema
• Chronic edema and wound care
• Chronic venous insufficiency
• Obesity and lymphedema
• Pediatric and primary lymphedema
• Lipedema
• Challenging presentations, like head & neck, genital or chest wall and breast lymphedema
Assessment and Interventions:
• Prospective surveillance and risk reduction
• Lymphatic imagery
• Novel assessment techniques
• Innovation in lymphedema therapy, management
Education and Advocacy:
• Professional education
Health Research:
• Biomedical research
• Measurement and evaluation
• Interdisciplinary care
• Surgical procedures
• Exercise
• Nutrition
• Patient education, self-management
• Community-based initiatives
• Complex case studies
• Knowledge translation
• Community-based initiatives
• Lymphedema service development including telehealth, eHealth and mHealth solutions
Guidelines for All Submissions
It is strongly preferred that you submit your abstract using the online submission form found at our Conference site submissions page. Though it is preferred that you place the text of your abstract into the form directly, you are given the alternate option to upload a Word document file If you encounter difficulty using the submission form or site, contact us for assistance by email at submissions@canadalymph.ca
When you begin the submission process at the Conference site, you will create a profile and login for saving your progress, editing, and viewing your submission(s). When registration opens, you will use the same login to complete your conference registration and make your agenda sessions and other preference selections.
• Abstracts should be submitted in English.
• Limit abstract to 300 words – not including title, authors, and form questions.
• Any Word .doc/.docx files submitted should be formatted in Arial font size 11, single spacing.
• All abstracts will be considered for poster presentations with some selected for oral. Oral presentations will be 8 minutes in length, with 2 minutes for discussion. There will be dedicated poster sessions with awards announced during Saturday’s closing session.
• All accepted abstracts will be published exactly as submitted in a digital abstract booklet, so submit with this in mind and understand that spelling and grammar accuracy are your responsibility.
• Name and affiliation address for all authors must be noted.
• Successful abstract authors (both oral and poster) must be planning to register and attend the Conference and be registered by August 25, 2023 to finalize their place on the Program.*
General Abstract Submission Suggestions
New and first-time presenters are encouraged. Submission is not limited to research-based abstracts. If you have a special interest in a relevant topic or a special case study, we urge you to consider a submission to share your work with your colleagues. The abstract should begin with an introduction, including any related literature review, followed by the body of the discussion, and ending with your conclusion.
Research-Based Abstract Submission Suggestions
The following guidelines are suggestions and subheadings/content may be modified as required. You will be prompted to note on your submission if the project is complete or in progress.
Context: The abstract should begin with a sentence or two summarizing the rationale for the study. In addition, the author should give a sentence or two about the importance of this work to primary health care.
Objective: State the objective or study question addressed (e.g., to determine whether…). If more than one objective is addressed, the main objective should be indicated, and only key secondary objectives stated.
Design: Describe the basic design of the study. For new analyses of existing data sets (secondary data analysis), the data set should be named, and the basic study design disclosed.
Setting: Describe the study setting(s) such as general community, a primary care or referral centre, private or institutional practice, or ambulatory or hospitalized care.
Patients or other participants: State the important eligibility (inclusion and exclusion) criteria and key socio demographic features of patients. Provide numbers of participants and how they were selected.
Results: Give the main results of the study. The results should be quantified, including confidence intervals (e.g., 95%) or P values where appropriate. If research is in progress, state anticipated results.
Conclusions: Report only those conclusions of the study that are directly supported by the evidence, along with any implications for clinical practice (if applicable). Avoid speculation and overgeneralization. Equal emphasis should be given to positive and negative findings of equal scientific merit. If research is in progress, state the methodological or conceptual problem that is being posed.
These guidelines were adapted from the North American Primary Care Research Group.