Qualitative Health Research Conference 2017, Quebec City Oct 17 to 19th, 2017

[A Former User]

Oct 17 to 19th, 2017

http://www.cvent.com/events/2017-qualitative-health-research-conference-call-for-abstracts/custom-20-c1f14cd08ac34377b7b11149662021a1.aspx

This is what it says on the website:

"The International Institute for Qualitative Methodology supports patient engagement and input in the research process. If you are a patient (not a researcher submitting an abstract) and wish to attend the conference, please inquire for special rates"

I sent them an email to see about the special rates.

Last year Alies, Sara and I were there. Alies and Sara had their ways paid. I persisted and they finally let me in at no cost on the day before the conference when someone who had paid cancelled. What they say this year is progress.

[A Former User]

I heard back from this group:

Thank you for your interest in IIQM and the upcoming Qualitative Health Research Conference. When early bird registration opens in June you can register as a patient and receive 25% off the admission price.
Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns.
Regards, Yvette

I do have concerns - no one will be able to go with that as the best enticement they can offer, though I admit they are doing better than last year.

So I emailed back with a few more paragraphs. They are a tough nut. Will keep you informed

[A Former User]

They are speedy responders:

"Hello Annette,

Thank you very much for your input and insight on this matter. I will bring your comments and observations to the director of IIQM. We always appreciate feedback and will look to see if there are ways in which we might make the conference more accessible to patients."

This is what I wrote to them:

"I do not think that many patients will feel that they would be able to afford to attend with a 25% discount.

As you are aware the number of patients actually involved in research and interested enough to attend a technical conference about qualitative research is quite small. Of this subset I do not personally know any who would feel this is their career, and who have anything to gain by attending as volunteers.

I would have thought that in the spirit of encouraging patient involvement in research that the IIQM could consider offering a scholarship or two, or having a competition that would enable 1 or 2 patients to attend would be a gracious move to welcome another voice to the table.

[A Former User]

Good for you Annette. I just asked a similar question of ISQUA in London in October, and response was similar. They will give ONE registration if your abstract is accepted (ours wasn't) but if you are presenting about a partnership initiative, one presenter doesn't appropriately reflect what we were trying to present.. (it was also research oriented).