Wits health communication project hosts COMET 2008

COMET will take place in Cape Town from Wednesday, 2 - Friday, 4 July 2008. Although research in health communication practices is a relatively new field, much of the research emanating from the Health Research Project at Wits University is groundbreaking - in spite of limited resources and lack of funding.

Professor Claire Penn, chairperson of the organising committee for COMET 2008 in South Africa says that the COMET conference is an exciting platform to highlight some of the unique challenges and the cultural and linguistic diversity of this country.

“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to host this conference which will showcase South African and international research in the fields of health communication, medicine and ethics,” says Penn.

Communication research examines the problems patients go through, or are subjected to, in the healthcare industry and involves their comments when examining improvements and possible solutions. Patients' feedback of their experiences in the healthcare services is increasingly valued and forms part of many services assessments and upgrading.

The first COMET conference took place in 2003 at Cardiff (UK) when more than 200 communication researchers representing 20 countries from different disciplinary backgrounds including healthcare, human and social sciences, exchanged ideas and communication-orientated research. After the resounding success of the conference, a group of top-notch researchers have continued to challenge medical opinions and customs. COMET 2008 promises to examine issues that are not usually on the programme of medical congresses.

For more information contact Robbie Cameron on (011) 728-8173 or email