1st Annual Qualitative Research Symposium, 2016

The 1^st ever annual symposium dedicated exclusively to qualitative research was held on the 11^th of March 2016 alongside the 4^th annual qualitative research course conducted by IRD. Seven research teams presented their qualitative research studies at the symposium; some of whom were previous participants of the the qualitative methods course. The presentations were judged by Dr. Tine Van Bortel, Prof. Athula Sumathipala, and Dr. Godwin Kodituwakku. The best oral presentation was awarded to Dr. Thamara Amarasekara.

The oral presentations presented at the symposium

Factors Affecting; the Psychological Interventions in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome; A Qualitative Study; A Case from the Western Province. Dr. Dumindu Wijewardana, Medical officer, Army Hospital Colombo.

Analysis of Service-User and Carer Feedback on Community-based Mental Health Services for Adults Learning Disabilities. Ms. Hansini Gunasekara, Cambridge Intellectual and Developmental Disbilities Research Group.

Exploring the reasons for the failure to follow exercise and dietary recommendations by pregnant females with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus. Dr. Kalpanie Wijewardana, Medical officer, Paediatrics, Base Hospital Kiribathgoda.

A Qualitative Study on Life Style Risk Factors for Knee Joint Osteoarthritis in a Rural Mountainous Village (Meemure) in Sri Lanka. Dr. Nishan Silva, Medical officer, Ministry of Health.

Public Behavior when encountered with a Road Traffic Accident. Ms. Sadana Samarakoon, Diploma student of nursing, International Institute of Health Sciences.

Compassion fatigue among Sri Lankan Nurses. Ms. Shaluni Tissera, Diploma student of nursing, International Institute of Health Sciences.

An ethnographic study of health beliefs and practices among Sri Lankan adults with type 2 diabetes. Dr. Thamara Amarasekara, Senior Lecturer, Department of Allied Health Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura.