Road safety is a major issue in Qatar that places a huge burden (physical, financial and emotional) on all aspects of society; individuals and families, the healthcare system, public health and the country. Despite improvements, road traffic injuries continue to be a significant cause of mortality and morbidity in the country, especially within the pediatric population. The State of Qatar has acknowledged the importance of making roads safer, reducing injuries and promoting health through the development of the National Road Safety Strategy 2013-2022.
On Tuesday 25 November 2014, the 2nd Transportation Health Research in Children of Qatar Workshop was held at the Hilton Hotel with the goal of creating a multi-organizational research working group committed to transportation health research in children – one of the key recommendations which emerged from the previous ‘Transportation Health Research in Children and Youth in Qatar for the 21st Century’ workshop held in November, 2013.
The specific objectives of the workshop were to:
1. Build an understanding of research activity since the 1st Transportation Health Research in Children Workshop.
2. Identify gaps in research data and knowledge in seat belt use and effective media campaigns and discuss strategies to address these gaps.
3. Develop two draft research proposals in the areas of seatbelt use and strategies for effective media campaigns to change behavior in Qatar.
4. Create a multi-year research plan for transportation health research in children in Qatar.
5. Create a research environment and relationship among attendees that will engender and foster collaboration in this area.
6. Disseminate the proceedings and recommendations of this workshop to key opinion leaders and stakeholders in the field of transportation health of children in Qatar.
The event was hosted by Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) in partnership with The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto (SickKids) and brought together leading researchers and physicians from Qatar and from SickKids, along with urban planners, government officials and other stakeholders in the country.
The event was opened by Mr. Fabian Marsh, Road Safety Advisor, Road Operations and Maintenance, who highlighted the significance of transportation health research in children. Andrew Howard, Chief of Orthopedics and Senior Scientist at The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto provided a keynote presentation on the ‘The Evolution of Seatbelt Wearing Compliance and its Impact in Reducing Childhood Injury and Death: The Canadian Story’ setting the scene for the day, before a number of speakers including Dr. Thaera Abdulwahid M. Muslat, Public Health Department and Community Medicine Specialist SCH, Dr. Khalid Abdulnoor Saifeldeen FCEM, Director, Hamad International Training Center (HITC), Senior Consultant Emergency Medicine and Dr. Khalifa Al Khalifa, Director, Qatar Road Safety Studies Center (QRSSC) provided an overview of the current situation in Qatar.
Following the lectures, attendees were placed into teams for breakout sessions to develop research plans and next steps. They then presented their conclusions and recommendations at the end of the day.
