CALL FOR ABSTRACTS – Ministry of Health & Wellness, Jamaica

16th Annual National Health Research Virtual Conference

Theme:

Health for All In a Changing Environment

Call for Abstracts On:

NHRC SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

1. General Guidelines for Submission

The Ministry of Health and Wellness, Jamaica, will be hosting its 16th Annual National Health Research Conference, virtually November 19-21, 2025.

Researchers are invited to submit abstracts under six (6) main thematic areas. These are: (i) Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), (ii) Demographic Changes-Ageing and Birth Rates, (iii) Men’s Health, (iv) Sexual and Reproductive Health, (v) AI and Robotics in Healthcare and (vi) Workplace Wellness.

However, please note that the National Health Research Conference Secretariat will also accept abstracts of high-quality research findings that do not fall under the above Conference themes.

Abstracts will be reviewed by a committee and selected for oral or poster presentation based on a grading scheme. The information below must be used to guide authors on important factors considered in the grading exercise.

Emphasis will be placed on the ability of the research to impact programmes and influence health policies within the local and global health sector.

The scientific soundness of the research will also be evaluated, which includes:

Once an abstract is accepted for presentation, it is expected that the presenting author will be in attendance to present it.

Prizes will be awarded for the Best Oral and Poster presentation and the Best Student presentation for Oral and Poster. An additional prize will be awarded to the research most likely to influence policy, Most Impactful Oral and Poster presentation.

2. Abstract Submission

Abstracts will be accepted by online submissions ONLY.
Submissions are to be made using the form below no later than Wednesday, September 17, 2025.
Attachments should not exceed 10 MB.

Receipt of abstracts will be acknowledged within 3 working days of submission. If there is no acknowledgement within this time, you may contact the Secretariat at:

3. Instructions for Authors

Abstracts submitted should represent original research; that is, the abstract should not have been presented or published as an abstract or a full journal paper prior to the 16th National Health Research Conference.
Authors of research papers involving humans or animals must submit copies of the relevant ethical approval letters.
A cover letter must be submitted to indicate that all authors have agreed to the submission, and give their permission for the abstract to be published in the National Health Research Conference booklet. The cover letter should also indicate whether the authors have any conflicts of interest or financial incentive from the research presented in the abstract.
The author(s) should indicate in the cover letter whether the research is in partial fulfillment of an undergraduate or post-graduate degree in order to be eligible for the prize of Best Student presentation.
The abstract should be organized and formatted as follows: Title, Aims/Objectives, Methods, Results and Conclusion and Keywords. The conclusion must answer the objectives, and be in line with the results presented. No Background is necessary. Researchers should place emphasis on the Methods and Results sections. The body of the abstract should be font size 12 and no more than 250 words. Please note that marks will be taken off in the adjudication process for abstracts that go over the word limit. The abstract should be single-spaced. Please see abstract example below.
The document should be organized with the title (centered) at the top along with the name(s) of all authors and the institutions to which they are affiliated (not positions). The author’s affiliation should be font size 10 and italized.
It will be assumed that the first author listed will be the presenting author; if this is not the case, then the presenting author should be indicated in bold.
There should be no references, tables, figures, pictures, graphs etc. in the abstract.
The abstract must be properly constructed and grammatically correct.
A word count must be included at the end of the document. The word count should be exclusive of the title, authors and their affiliations and keywords.
The corresponding author, along with his/her telephone and email address should be indicated. ALL correspondence will be with the corresponding author through the email address submitted. The corresponding author’s contact information should be provided at the end of the abstract.
See NHRC Abstract Format Example and the Abstract Content Checklist

NB: Any abstract found to be in contravention of the listed instructions would not be considered for the adjudication process for the Conference.

For further information, please contact the Secretariat at E-mail: [email protected] or Telephone: 876-633-8157

NHRC Abstract Format Example

See NHRC Abstract Format Example

SUBMIT AN ABSTRACT

This portal is no longer accepting submissions.

Abstract Content Checklist

The abstract should cover all elements shown in the NHRC Abstract Format.
The abstract should fit within the themes of (i) Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), (ii) Demographic changes-Aging and Birth rates, (iii) Men’s Health, (iv) Sexual and Reproductive health, (v) AI and Robotics in Healthcare and (vi) Workplace Wellness. And or of a high quality research topic /findings.
The research should be of scientific merit.
The research should be of relevance to the Jamaica and or global health sectors, and should ideally be able to inform health policy and practice.
Abstracts should be no more than 250 words.
The abstract should ONLY include Title, Aims/Objectives, Methods, Results and Conclusions and Keywords.
Each section clearly delineated as shown in the example above.
No Background is necessary for the abstract.
Researchers should place emphasis on the Methods and Results sections.
The abstract should be coherent and grammatically sound.
The Title of the paper should reflect the content of the abstract.
The Objectives or Aims should be clearly stated to emphasize the problem under investigation or the research question to be answered.
The Methods should be include a brief descriptions of the study design, participants/sample, sample size and should be appropriate for the stated objectives. This section should also describe statistical methods used.
The Results should be in line with stated objectives and include the outcomes of the appropriate statistical tests.
The Conclusion should be drawn from the results presented, and indicate the implications/applications of the findings or results.
Keywords are optional but highly recommended. Keywords should be three to five words, phrases, or acronyms relevant to your research.
Any abstract found to be in contravention of the listed instructions will not be considered for the adjudication process for the Conference.

About the event

Conference Activities Over the Decade

The inaugural National Health Research Conference was held on November 25-26, 2010 at the Wyndham Kingston Hotel under the theme Bringing Health Research into Focus. The Conference sought to highlight research being conducted by the Ministry of Health, other institutions and individuals, and to facilitate discussions on national and regional research priorities, while providing an opportunity for health research networking. The original purpose has transitioned over the decade to the current objectives:

To share the findings of health studies conducted by the Ministry of Health and Wellness and other institutions and individuals in Jamaica;
To identify operational research with the potential to influence or be translated into policy;
To facilitate special discussions and presentations that focus on the conference theme.

List of Research Prize Awardees: 2011-2024

2024

NHRC Research Prize Winners 2024

2042
Oral Presentations
Best Oral Presentation	Dr Carol Lord	Perinatal outcomes of mothers with eclampsia and preeclampsia at public hospitals in the South East Regional Health Authority (SERHA) Jamaica, a five-year review
Most Impactful Oral Presentation	Prof Trevor Ferguson	Frequency of high salt consumption and associations with sociodemographic and health factors among Jamaican adults: The Jamaica Salt Consumption Study
Best Student Oral Presentation	Ms Sashell Nelson	Dietary predictors of anaemia in women of reproductive age: Findings from the Jamaica Health and Lifestyle Survey 2016-2017 (JHLS-III)
Poster Presentations
Best Poster Presentation	Dr. Joanna Smith-Burke	Reach Up parenting intervention: implementation, impact and lessons learnt in the Jamaican primary care setting
Most Impactful Poster Presentation	Dr. Gail Evering-Kerr	Papanicolaou (Pap) test results turnaround time and factors influencing turnaround time of Pap smear results in the public health system in Jamaica
Best Student Poster Presentation	Ms. Tracia-Gay Kennedy-Dixon	Nuclear medicine in the public sector in Jamaica: A 2 year review

2023

NHRC Research Prize Winners 2023

2023
Oral Presentations
Best Oral Presentation	Ms. Selena Lewis	Influence of Health Systems and Patients’ Experiences on Self-Reported Medication Adherence in Jamaican and Colombian patients with Hypertension: A cross sectional cross country comparative study
Most Impactful Oral Presentation	Dr. David McGowan	A cross–sectional survey of antibiotic use among patients admitted at two urban hospitals in Jamaica
Best Student Oral Presentation	Mr. Amarley Wright	Combined Supplementation of S-Nitrosoglutathione and Glutathione for Diabetes Treatment
Poster Presentations
Best Poster Presentation	Dr. Jordan Eaton	A 5-Year Retrospective Analysis Of Referral Patterns And Associated Factors Among Patients On A Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry Service At A General Hospital In Kingston, Jamaica
Most Impactful Poster Presentation
Best Student Poster Presentation

2022

Prize Winners for NHRC 2022

Oral Presentations
Best Oral Presentation	Dr Kimikawa Morgan Channer	Financial Burden of In-patient Stroke care at Kingston Public Hospital in 2020
Most Impactful Oral Presentation	Dr Kunal Lalwani	A secondary analysis of Alcohol use and driving while intoxicated in Jamaica
Most Impactful Oral Presentation	Dr Valence Jordan	Vision-Related Quality of Life in Jamaican Glaucoma Patients: Economic Perspectives
Best Student Oral Presentation	Dr Patrick Toppin	The prevalence of Acute Kidney Injury and mortality in COVID-19 patients admitted to the University Hospital of the West Indies Intensive Care Unit
Poster Presentations
Best Poster Presentation	Dr Henrika Gayle	Prevalence and determinants of non-barrier contraceptive use among women in Westmoreland, Jamaica
Most Impactful Poster Presentation	Dr Henrika Gayle	Prevalence and determinants of non-barrier contraceptive use among women in Westmoreland, Jamaica
Best Student Poster Presentation	Miss Hasina Nicholson	The Effect of Chamomile Tea, Banana Peel Tea, and Coffee on Sleep in Danio rerio (Zebrafish)

2021

Prize Winners for NHRC 2021


Oral Presentations
Best Oral Presentation	Dr. Kunal Lalwani	Concurrent Polysubstance Use in Jamaica – Prevalence, Risk Perception and associated factors: A Secondary Analysis of the National Household Survey on Drug prevalence, 2016
Most Impactful Oral Presentation	Mr Alphanso Blake Jr.	Social Support and Ideal Cardiovascular Health in Urban Jamaica: a cross-sectional study
Best Student Oral Presentation	Ms. Janeel Anderson	Technology Acceptance of Mobile Health apps for patients with Non-Communicable Disease patients during the COVID-19 pandemic
Poster Presentations
Best Poster Presentation	Dr Andrew Burton	The Epidemiology of Dermatological Diseases at a Jamaican Paediatric Hospital
Most Impactful Poster Presentation	Dr Andrew Burton	The Epidemiology of Dermatological Diseases at a Jamaican Paediatric Hospital
Best Student Poster Presentation	Dr Andrew Burton	The Epidemiology of Dermatological Diseases at a Jamaican Paediatric Hospital

2020

Prize Winners for NHRC 2020

Prize	Name	Presentation Title
Oral Presentations
Best Oral Presentation	Mr. Kevhvan Graham	*Analysis of Actinobacteria* Isolates for Evidence of the Production of Antimicrobial Compounds**
Most Impactful Oral Presentation	Ms. Tiffany Butterfield	Assessment of Commercial SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Assays, Jamaica
Best Student Oral Presentation	Ms. Vonetta Nurse	The use and understanding of nutrition labels on sugar-sweetened beverages: A study of consumers in Kingston & Saint Andrew, Jamaica
Poster Presentations
Best Poster Presentation	Dr. Leroy Campbell	A new maternal mortality classification system highlights the importance of infection as a cause of death, Jamaica (1998-2018)
Most Impactful Poster Presentation	Dr. Leroy Campbell	A new maternal mortality classification system highlights the importance of infection as a cause of death, Jamaica (1998-2018)
Best Student Oral Presentation	Dr. Kimberly Sommerville	Improving Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Management in Kingston, Jamaica (ImPOK)

2019

Prize	Name	Presentation Title
Oral Presentations
Best Oral Presentation	Ms. Shamonia Francis	Antidepressant Potential of an Aqueous Extract of Arachis hypogaea testa
Most Impactful Oral Presentation	Dr Ijah Thompson	Exploratory evaluation of stress and burnout among Jamaican employees
Best Student Oral Presentation	Ms. Shamonia Francis	Antidepressant Potential of an Aqueous Extract of Arachis hypogaea testa
Poster Presentations
Best Poster Presentation	Mrs Sherika Whitelocke-Ballingsingh	Storage Patterns Of Household Chemicals:- A Determinant to Childhood Poisoning
Most Impactful Poster Presentation	Ms Rochelle Amour	Where does dementia policy belong? Exploring the Caribbean policy landscape”
Best Student Oral Presentation	Ms Jacqueline Ellis and Dr Paul Bourne	Customer Service (SERVQUAL) for Kingston Public & Victoria Jubilee Hospitals

2018

Best Oral Presentation	Dr. Gad Onywere
Most Impactful Oral Presentation	Dr. Cary Fletcher
Best Poster Presentation	Dr. Rajeev Venugopal
Most Impactful Poster Presentation	Ms. Mauvette Waite
Best Student Poster Presentation	Dr. Charisse Best

2017

Best Oral Presentation	Dr. Sheray Chin
Best Oral Student Presentation	Mr. Damian Francis
Best Poster Presentation	Dr. Pauline Russell-Brown
Most Impactful Presentation	Ms. Karen Brown

2016

Best Oral Presentation	Mr. Damian Francis
Best Student Oral Presentation	Ms. Stacy-Ann Aiken
Most Impactful Presentation	Dr. Lizette Mowatt
Best Poster Presentation	Dr. Tana Ricketts-Roomes

2015

Best Oral Presentation	Mr. Elroy Glabraith
Best Student Oral Presentation	Mrs. Karen Thompson-Nelson
Best Poster Presentation	Mrs. Nadean Simmonds-Lewis

2014

Best Oral Presentation	Dr. Yohance Rodriguez
Best Student Oral Presentation	Dr. Paul Brown
Best Poster Presentation	Mrs. Julia Russell-Brown
Best Poster Presentation	Mr. Rupert Stephens

2013

Best Oral Presentation	Dr. Glendee Reynolds-Campbell
Best Poster Presentation	Dr. Ted Rhoden

2012

Best Oral Presentation	Dr. Michelle Hamilton
Best Poster Presentation	Ms. Sharon Dawson
Best Student Presentation	Ms. Joan Thomas

2011

Best Oral Presentation	Ms. Shelly McFarlane
Most Relevant Research	Ms. Shelly McFarlane
Best Poster Presentation	Ms. A. Elijio