STOCKHOLM, Sweden – From November 1-4, researchers and graduates from the American University of Armenia (AUA) Gerald and Patricia Turpanjian School of Public Health (SPH) presented their work at the 10th European Public Health Conference in Stockholm, Sweden. The conference brought together over 2000 public health professionals from around the world under the theme “Sustaining resilient and healthy communities” to contribute to the improvement of public health in Europe. The conference provided a large platform for researchers, policy makers and public health specialists to discuss and exchange information and experience on health systems development related challenges and recent achievements.
During the four-day conference, the AUA SPH team actively participated in various sessions, including health services access and quality, migrant health, and health promotion and infectious diseases, presenting their work through pitch presentations, poster walks and poster displays.
Researchers from the SPH Zvart Avedisian Onanian Center for Health Services Research and Development (CHSR), Aida Giloyan (MPH 2007), Serine Sahakyan (MPH 2015) and Varduhi Hayrumyan (MPH 2016), received partial scholarships from the conference organizers.
The following CHSR research findings were presented at the conference:
- “Visual outcome and vision related quality of life among patients after cataract surgery in Armenia” presented by Aida Giloyan (co-authored by Tsovinar Harutyunyan (MPH 1999) & Varduhi Petrosyan)
- “Population mobility and Tuberculosis-HIV/AIDS co-morbidity rates in Armenia” presented by Serine Sahakyan (authored by Nune Truzyan (MPH 2003) & Varduhi Petrosyan)
- “Exploring nursing profession in Armenia from nurses prospective: a qualitative study”presented by Serine Sahakyan (co-authored by Kristina Akopyan (MPH 2013) & Varduhi Petrosyan)
- “Limited availability of smoking cessation products in the Armenian pharmaceutical market” presented by Varduhi Hayrumyan (co-authored by Armine Abrahamyan (MPH 2015), Arusyak Harutyunyan (MPH 2009), & Varduhi Petrosyan)
- “Training impact on physicians’ knowledge in smoking cessation in Armenia” presented by Varduhi Hayrumyan (co-authored by Arusyak Harutyunyan, Armine Abrahamyan, & Varduhi Petrosyan)
- Patients and family rights in an inpatient tuberculosis facility in Armenia” presented by Varduhi Hayrumyan (authored by Zaruhi Grigoryan (MPH 2015), Lusine Musheghyan (MPH 2013), Nune Truzyan, & Varduhi Petrosyan)
- “Current and past smokers’ beliefs, attitudes and experiences related to quitting smoking”presented by Varduhi Hayrumyan (authored by Gohar Abelyan (MPH 2015), Narine Movsisyan (MPH 1997), & Varduhi Petrosyan).
Six alumni from the AUA SPH presented their MPH thesis projects at the conference as well; four of them – Aelita Sargsyan (MPH 2013), Yelena Sardaryan (MPH 2013), Hratchia Lylozian (MPH 2016), and Shogher Muradyan (MPH 2016) – received Gulbenkian Scholarships (Short Term Conference and Travel Grants) to attend the conference.
The following MPH thesis projects were presented at the conference:
- “Reproductive Hazards and Metal Smelting” presented by Aelita Sargsyan (co-authored by Varduhi Petrosyan & Margrit von Braun)
- “Risk factors impeding help-seeking behaviors among victims of domestic violence”presented by Yelena Sardaryan (co-authored by Michael Thompson and Nune Truzyan)
- “Retrospective cohort study of lost to follow up predictors among TB patients in Yerevan, Armenia” presented by Serine Sahakyan (co-authored by Varduhi Petrosyan & Lusine Abrahamyan)
- “Health component of the social package in Armenia: a cross-sectional survey of beneficiaries” presented by Hratchia Lylozian (co-authored by Varduhi Petrosyan & Anahit Demirchyan)
- “Qualitative description of experiences of temporomandibular disorder symptoms in Yerevan, Armenia” presented by Shogher Muradyan (co-authored by Robert Bagramian & Kristina Akopyan)
- “Social Support and Smoking Cessation among Patients with Myocardial Infarction in Armenia” presented by Varduhi Hayrumyan (co-authored by Arusyak Harutyunyan & Tsovinar Harutyunyan).
All abstracts were published in the European Journal of Public Health, Volume 27, Issue Supplement 3, November 2017.
The AUA School of Public Health works actively to improve population health and health services in Armenia and the region through interdisciplinary education and development of public health professionals to be leaders in public health, health services research and evaluation, and health care delivery and management.
