BPS Division of Health Psychology Annual Conference 2002
4-6 September 2002, Sheffield Hallam University and University of Sheffield
"Facilitating Healthier Societies"
End of Conference Summary
On behalf of the Division of Health Psychology, I would like to thank Dr Maddy Arden, Dr Chris Armitage and the Local Conference Organising teams of Sheffield Hallam University and the University of Sheffield for hosting a superb conference in September 2002.
The conference was a great success with an excellent blend of quality research and Yorkshire hospitality. A full summary of delegates' conference evaluations can be seen at the end of this page.
Dr Hilary Bekker, DHP National Conference Organiser (2001-2004)
e-mail: h.l.bekker@leeds.ac.uk
The keynote speakers were:
- Professor Susan Folkman, University of California, talking about the role of positive emotions in stress, coping & health research
- Professor Robert Plomin, Kings College London, describing the links between genetics, genes, genomics and behaviour, & the opportunities for collaboration between this 'brave new world' & health psychology.
There were over 80 oral and 100 poster presentations including:
Symposia on current issues in adherence to treatment regimens; understanding and facilitating attendance for cervical screening; implementing evidence based changed in the health service; quality of life and paediatric cancer; using think aloud techniques to validate measures and intervention materials; employing interpretative phenomenological analysis to understand pain in health care.
Individual Papers on self-regulation theory to understand coping in urinary tract infections, chemotherapy, rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes; Theory of Planned Behaviour to explain smoking, diet, and immunisations; intervention evaluations that facilitate understanding of genetic conditions, sex education, blood transfusions, and encourage smoking cessation, breast feeding, cancer and heart disease screening; emotions, social support and coping in stress; exploring beliefs about depression, anxiety, suicide and unexplained physical symptoms.
Exhibitors included:
McGraw Hill Education; Blackwell Publishing Ltd; ILRT; OUP; Uniview Worldwide Ltd; Psychology Press; Pavilion Publishing; Sage; Aleph One Ltd; Wiley & Sons; Eurospan.
CONFERENCE FEEDBACK.
The number of delegates attending the conference this year was 315. The results of the 59 (19%) delegates who returned conference evaluation forms are summarised below.
1. Membership of responders was:
DHP members, 41%; non-members, 33%; student members, 14%; affiliate members, 12%.
2. Attendance at conferences:
58% had previously attended a Division of Health Psychology Annual Conference; 85% another social science conference; 44% another professional or patient conference.
3. Conference aims and objectives:
The majority of responders thought the conference had achieved its main aims, although some were unsure of whether or not the conference had addressed all aspects of health psychologists work. Responders answered yes, no or unsure to the following; the yes responses are noted:
a) Enabled the dissemination of good quality research? 97%
b) Included papers with a range of theoretical approaches to understanding health/ illness? 92%
c) Included papers that applied theoretically based interventions across health care settings? 89%
d) Included papers with a range of methods to explore research questions? 95%
e) Included papers with research questions of relevance to clinical practice? 85%
f) Addressed issues of relevance to all aspects of health psychologists work? 64%
g) Provided opportunities to meet and talk with colleagues? 95%
4. Conference ratings:
Rated on a likert scale from poor (1) to excellent (5), the mean responses for evaluations of the following aspects of the scientific and social programme were:
a) How would you rate this conference overall? 4.2
b) What was the quality of symposia? 4.2
c) What was the quality of individual papers? 3.9
d) What was the quality of posters? 4.0
e) How was the timekeeping and chairing? 4.4
f) How was the social programme 4.4
Specific comments were made in the open response sections about aspects of the conference location, scientific programme, social events and accommodation. These are summarised below:
Conference location: the majority of responses stated that the conference was well organised (n=13), located in a good venue (n=5), with excellent refreshments (n = 6), and good technical support (n=3). However, some of the lecture rooms were too small for one of two of the presentations (n=4) and more time was required to move between sessions (n=4).
Scientific programme: comments about the variety and quality of the scientific programme were good (n=5). However, some indicated there was variability in the quality of individual papers and posters (n=8), the chairing of some sessions was poor (n=4), and the number of symposia limited the breadth of presented research (n= 2). A few responders (n=3) felt too many papers drew on the Theory of Planned Behaviour, too few oral presentations employed qualitative methods, and work from certain research groups was favoured in the programme. Others identified (n=2) the need for more presentations on the professional and/or stage II component of Health Psychologists training, and how to use theory to develop interventions and/or inform policy and practice.
Social events and accommodation: most comments about the social events stated that they were excellent (n=11); one respondent would have liked a social event that didnt focus on eating and drinking. There was a mixed response to the use of hotels rather than the halls of residences for accommodation. Although one respondent stated s/he will not be attending next year because the accommodation is in halls, fourteen stated they preferred halls because the post-socialising socialising was of a better quality. Thirty-five stated having the option of both was appropriate if the price, quality and location of both were good.
5. Changing the structure of the conference.
For the past few years the conferences basic structure has been to run for one whole day and two half days, with three parallel oral and one poster session. However, the number of submissions each year is increasing. The following are delegates responses to the options put forward to accommodate these increases: display different posters on different days, 63%; increase the conference to three days, 53%; have poster symposia, 39%; more rigorous evaluation criteria, 36%; four parallel sessions, 34%; an oral-poster compromise, five-minute oral presentations, 15%; breakfast sessions, 10%. It is likely that this years conference will start earlier on Wednesday 3rd September and display different posters on different days.
6. Preferred timing of conference.
Of those attending the conference this year, 59% preferred the conference to be during the first week and 36% during the second week of September. The 2004 conference is taking place during the second week of September to avoid some delegates with children missing their first week back at school. If this change in timing affects attendance, the conference will revert back to the first week in September.
7. Final Comment.
Thank you to all of those who took the time to complete the feedback form. These responses are used to inform the planning of future conferences. Although I perceive this years conference to have met its aims and been enjoyed by many, I am aware that a few delegates had some poor experiences which could be avoided next year. Finally, it is worth stating that the quality and breadth of research included in the scientific programme is dependent on the abstracts submitted. The Conference Scientific Committee evaluates each submitted abstract against set criteria, regardless of the qualifications and reputations of the authors. If you want to present your health psychology related research at the Division of Health Psychologys Sixth Annual Conference at Staffordshire University 3rd-5th September 2003, please access the abstract submission details and form from: [link removed as no longer available] or The Conference Office, The British Psychological Society, St Andrews House, 48 Princess Road East, Leicester LE1 7DR, UK. Fax. 0116 255 7123; Email: conferences@bps.org.uk.
Dr Hilary Bekker (National Conference Organiser, 2001-2004).