Programme And Workshop Details
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Workshop Details
WORKSHOP 1 – HEALTH MEETS THE HEADLINES (Ray Moynihan [University of Sydney], Brooke Nickel (University of Sydney) and Loai Albarqouni [Bond University])
Healthcare reporting has an important influence on public perceptions and decision-making. Research shows media coverage of tests and treatments tends to favour benefits and play down harms, and often fails to include conflicts of interest. More recent studies about influencers and social media posts find a similar problem: widespread, misleading medical information which is potentially helping to drive problems of overdiagnosis and overuse of healthcare services. Back by popular demand after rave reviews at the 2024 AMWA conference, this special workshop from leading researchers from the Wiser Healthcare research collaboration offers strategies to better inform the public, with fresh tips, contacts, and story ideas. It will primarily offer an accessible introduction to the counter-intuitive problem of overdiagnosis, and deepen the understanding and skills of more experienced writers. It will also dive into cutting-edge research about misleading information on social media, and how to respond to it. And the workshop promises to be a lot of fun. The publicly funded Wiser Healthcare Research Collaboration to reduce overdiagnosis and overtreatment includes academics from the University of Sydney, Bond University, the University of Wollongong, and Monash University.
WORKSHOP 2 – BEYOND PROMPTS AND PRODUCTIVITY: THE BIGGER QUESTIONS ABOUT AI AND MEDICAL WRITING (Michelle Guillemard, Health Writer Hub)
Artificial intelligence (AI) has already transformed health and medical writing, but the biggest questions facing writers today are not about prompts or technology. They are about trust, expertise, authorship and the future of our profession. This interactive workshop will explore how AI is reshaping the way health content is created, reviewed and valued. Together, participants will discuss emerging questions facing writers, editors and communicators: Should we be changing the way we write because of AI? How much AI assistance is acceptable? Do clients care whether content was written by a human or a machine? What skills will matter most in the years ahead? The workshop will also examine ethical considerations including transparency, accountability, bias and accuracy, while also exploring practical ways AI can support efficiency and productivity without compromising professional judgement. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of how to navigate an evolving landscape and make thoughtful decisions about AI in their own work. This session is designed for health and medical writers who want to move beyond AI tools and prompts to explore the broader implications of AI for writing, communication and professional practice.
WORKSHOP 3 – DESIGNING COMPELLING SCIENCE MESSAGES WITH CLARITY (Jenni Metcalfe [Econnect Communication] and Michelle Riedlinger [Queensland University of Technology])
Join expert workshop facilitators Jenni Metcalfe and Michelle Riedlinger for a practical session on designing clear medical science communication messages. Based on a risk communication approach to ensuring clarity, this session will include opportunities for you to design and test messages for your target groups and audiences. The presenters will illustrate the principles of effective message creation with real life examples. The session will conclude with a short discussion on cutting through the noise of social media and AI.
WORKSHOP 4 – ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DESCRIPTIVE, PREDICTIVE, AND CAUSAL OBSERVATIONAL STUDIES (Robert Ware, Griffith University)
Observational data can be used to answer descriptive, predictive, and causal questions. In recent years, there has been a growing appreciation that these different questions should be answered with different analytical approaches. This workshop will introduce the key differences between these types of research questions and analytical approaches. We will consider which statistical methods should, and should not, be used to answer each type of question, and discuss the types of bias that arise when study questions are answered inappropriately. Using applied examples, the session will aim to build confidence in interpreting evidence across study types and translating statistical concepts into clear, accurate medical communications.
WORKSHOP 5 – CUTTING THROUGH THE NOISE: WRITING CLINICAL EVIDENCE WITH PRECISION (Rebecca Perrett, Precision Pen Medical Writing)
Clear, accurate communication of clinical evidence has never been more important. Whether writing for investigators, healthcare professionals, internal stakeholders or patients, scientific communicators are increasingly challenged to distil complex data into messages that are concise, credible and meaningful - without losing scientific accuracy. This interactive workshop explores how the principles of clinical writing can strengthen medical communications. Through practical exercises and discussion, participants will learn techniques for translating complex clinical information into clear scientific messages, avoiding common pitfalls, and understanding where human expertise remains essential in an era of AI-assisted writing. By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:
- Apply core principles of clear, precise scientific writing to improve communication of clinical evidence.
- Translate complex clinical information into concise, audience-appropriate messages while maintaining scientific integrity.
- Recognise common sources of ambiguity, bias and “noise” in scientific writing.
- Critically evaluate AI-generated clinical content and identify where expert review adds value.
- Apply practical editing techniques that improve clarity, readability and credibility.
NOTE that attendees can claim 1.5 ISMPP CMPP credits for attendance at Workshop 2, Workshop 4, and/or Workshop 5