Post-conference Report The Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI) Honor Society 2nd European Regional Conference: Leadership, Learning and Research in Nursing and Midwifery The second conference took place on June 16 th -18 th 2014 at the Wallenberg Conference Center at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. The conference was hosted by Tau Omega Chapter, Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI) in Gothenburg, Sweden. Institute of Health and Care Sciences, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Box 457, SE 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden. The purpose of the conference was to bring together nurses from various areas, countries, and experiences to exchange ideas, research, and practice and to facilitate networking, collaboration, and friendship. The conference was of an interest to nurses, midwives, students and researchers from diverse clinical practice and academic settings who are members of Sigma Theta Tau International. In addition, the conference attracted the attention of non-members, who strive to improve nursing care worldwide. The themes and the content in the conference program reflected a broad range of issues which was planned and implemented by the Scientific Committee and in co-operation with the Board of Tau Omega Chapter and the Planning Committee. The three days sessions and activities were organized under seven themes: 1. The Patient s world 2. The Caregiver s world 3. The Nurse s world 4. The Midwives world 5. The Student s world 6. The Teacher s world 7. Methodological issues in research The conference had 200 attendees who represented 27 countries namely: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Cameroon, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Latvia, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, United Kingdom and United States. 2 nd European STTI Conference in Gothenburg, Sweden, June16-18, 2014 Report Page 1
The conference activities included: 1. STTI preconference seminar about Leadership Professor Hester Klopper, the president of STTI and Chief Executive Officer Patricia E. Thompson. 2. Four Keynote speakers: Professor Hester Klopper, the president of STTI Professor Emerita Ingegerd Bergbom/Professor Emerita Katie Eriksson and Professor Wendy Chaboyer 3. Three Plenary presentations: Dr. Berit Foss Associate Professor Sawsan Majali Associate Professor Lesley Moore Professor Margret Lepp 4. Oral presentations: 5 parallel sessions in the afternoon of the 16 th and 17 th and in the morning of the 17 th and 18 th of June, for a total of 101 oral presentations from various countries and background. 5. Poster presentations: 44 posters were displayed for the 3 days of the conference 16 th and 18 th of June from various countries and background and covering 4 themes as follows: Clinical Nursing (20), Maternal and Children (7), Nursing Education (12), and Management and Leadership (5). 6. Workshop sessions: a total of seven workshop presentations were conducted as part of the parallel sessions. 7. Award: The first European Recognition Nursing Ceremony was announced by Associate Professor Thóra B. Hafsteinsdóttir and handed over by Professor Hester Klopper to the awarded Swedish nurse Bibi Kennergren (RN, RNT) nominated by the STTI European Region Awards and Recognition Committee. 8. The conference was summarized by STTI Chief Executive Officer Patricia E. Thompson. 9. The next conference was presented by Ms Marie-Louise Luiking to be held in Utrecht. 10. Finally the conference was closed by Professor Margret Lepp, President Tau Omega Chapter. 2 nd European STTI Conference in Gothenburg, Sweden, June16-18, 2014 Report Page 2
Conference evaluation The conference evaluation form was placed in all participants conference bags. All participants were asked to participate in the evaluation. Thirty-six (36) completed and returned the forms to the conference committee. It was noticed that some of the respondents gave multiple answers related to each question. Therefore the total of each question does count more than 100%. The evaluation form included six (6) open-ended questions including: (1) What themes interested you during the conference? (2): What were the most interesting perspectives of the conference? (3) What was the least interesting perspective of the conference? (4) What significant learning will you take back to your workplace? (5) What was your special contribution to the conference? (6) What new theme would you suggest for the next conference? The following tables show summary of the answers given to each question. Question (1) asked delegates about the themes interested them during the conference No. Theme Responses % 1 The Student s world 15 42% 2 The Teacher s world 15 42% 3 Methodological issues in research 14 39% 4 The Nurse s world 12 33.5% 4 The Patient s world 12 33.5% 5 The Caregiver s world 9 25% 6 The Midwives world 7 19.5% It is clear that participants found all themes interesting with similar focus on the student s and teacher s world. In addition, they found similar interest on patient s and nurse s world. Several participants found all themes interesting where the conference covered very important aspects of nursing leadership, research, education and practice. 2 nd European STTI Conference in Gothenburg, Sweden, June16-18, 2014 Report Page 3
Question (2) asked participants about the most interesting perspectives of the conference No. The perspective Responses % 1 Parallel sessions 13 36% 2 Leadership 11 31% 3 International/globalization/global health 10 28% 3 Networking 10 28% 4 Education/research 6 16.5% 4 Organization 6 16.5% 5 Multidisciplinary/team work 5 14% 6 Great speakers 4 11% 7 Caring atmosphere/hospitality 3 8% It was noted that great interest in caring aspects of internationalization, globalization and networking aspects of the conference where it brought developing and developed countries/ cultures together in a European conference. People enjoyed the parallel sessions and many other interesting perspectives of leadership, education, research, as well having good teamwork with organization, warmth and hospitality. Question (3) asked participants about the least interesting perspectives of the conference No. The perspective Responses % 2 Nothing is least interesting - everything was 16 44.5% interesting 3 Time not enough for parallel sessions 9 25% It is interesting that almost half participants noted that there was nothing least interesting and that everything was interesting and important. However, it is noted that another group found that some of the keynotes and pre-conference were not interesting and that their expectations of keynotes were not met. 2 nd European STTI Conference in Gothenburg, Sweden, June16-18, 2014 Report Page 4
Question (4) asked participants what significant learning they will take back to their workplace No. The significant learning Responses % 1 Research (methods, ideas and initiatives) 16 44.5% 2 International collaboration and partnership 11 31% 3 Caring ideas and teamwork 7 19.5% 3 Education (drama and teaching approaches) 7 19.5% 3 Leadership 7 19.5% 4 Wider world view and different perspectives 4 11% It is interesting yet not unusual to find that almost half participants will take research ideas as well as international collaboration and partnership thoughts to their workplace. It was also noted that there equal value given to taking ideas related to caring, education, and leadership so as to build their nursing curriculum and teaching-learning strategies in their own universities. Having wider worldview and new perspectives was acknowledged by several participants. Question (5) asked about participants special contribution to the conference No. Participant s special contribution Responses % 1 Speaker at parallel session/ oral presenter 23 64% 2 Attendee of sessions 10 28% 3 Multiple roles 8 22% 4 Moderator 7 19.5% 5 Poster presenter 5 14% 5 Networking 5 14% 6 Member in planning committee 2 5.5% It is noted that most respondents were speakers at parallel sessions. Attendance of the sessions was also highlighted followed by having more than one role and moderating sessions. Almost one quarter of the respondents were volunteering to help with the conference as well as presenting, moderating and networking. 2 nd European STTI Conference in Gothenburg, Sweden, June16-18, 2014 Report Page 5
Question (6) asked about what themes participants suggest for future conference No. The suggested theme Responses % 1 Education, Teaching and Learning 13 36% 2 Patient-centered care 8 22% 3 Leadership and Management 6 16.5% 3 Global nursing/health/collaboration 6 16.5% 3 Combination (keep it with open broad themes as 6 16.5% current conference) 4 Practice areas (maternal child) 4 11% 5 Philosophical/theoretical/ethical issues in nursing 3 8% Most commonly suggested theme was related to education (teaching/learning aspects). Patientcentered care was next followed by three equally important areas of leadership/management, global nursing and collaboration, and multiple-theme of leadership, practice, research and education similar to the current conference so as to invite as much participation as possible. Social activity: Reception The planning committee arranged for a reception to all participants on Monday June 16: 16.30 Outside Wallenberg Conf. Center: Welcome and Music with a Swedish duo 17.00 Buffet at Wallenberg Conf. Center in the lobby. The participants had generous opportunities to meet colleagues, friends and make new connections. The Reception was free of charge. Boat trip The conference committee organized a pre-paid Boat Tour for interested participants that took place on Tuesday June 17 at 18.00-22.00, which included a buffet dinner, 93 participated in the tour and enjoyed the trip. Coffee Breaks and Lunches Each day, participants enjoyed two half-hour coffee breaks and served lunches at the conference venue. 2 nd European STTI Conference in Gothenburg, Sweden, June16-18, 2014 Report Page 6
Committees of the conference Several committees were established to plan and implement the conference over the 2 years. The committees and subcommittees are as below: PLANNING COMMITTEE Chair: Margret Lepp Deputy: Marianne Gustafsson and Helena Wigert Regional Coordinator: Thora B. Hafsteinsdóttir Rho Chi Chapter at Large: the Netherlands President: Marie-Louise Luiking. Deputy: Saskia Danen Tau Omega Chapter: Sweden Lilas Ali, Jehad O. Al-Halabi, Ingegerd Bergbom, Linda Berg, Kristofer Bjerså, Bibi Kennergren, Harshida Patel and Kaety Plos Upsilon Xi-at-Large Chapter: Wales President: Lesley Moore. Deputy: Maggie Kirk Phi Xi Chapter: Portugal President: Aida Mendes Phi Mu Chapter: England President: Elizabeth Rosser. Deputy: Eileen Richardson SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE Chair: Harshida Patel Deputy: Ingegerd Bergbom Chapters: Rho Chi Chapter at Large: the Netherlands Marie-Louise Luiking. Deputy: Thora B. Hafsteinsdóttir Tau Omega Chapter: Sweden Margret Lepp, Jehad O. Al-Halabi, Marianne Gustafsson and Kaety Plos Upsilon Xi-at-Large Chapter: Wales Lesley Moore. Deputy: Maggie Kirk Phi Mu Chapter: England Janet Scammell 2 nd European STTI Conference in Gothenburg, Sweden, June16-18, 2014 Report Page 7
Abstract reviewers: Sweden: Ingegerd Bergbom, Margret Lepp, Harshida Patel, Jehad O. Al-Halabi, Marianne Gustafsson and Kaety Plos Netherlands: Marie-Louise Luiking and Thora Hafsteindóttir Wales: Lesley Moore and Maggie Kirk England: Janet Scammell and Ann Bevan Portugal: Aida Mendes and José Carlos Santos Sub-committee: Abstract book Harshida Patel, Jehad O. Al-Halabi, Ingegerd Bergbom, Marianne Gustafsson, Kaety Plos and Margret Lepp Sub-committee: Public relation Kristofer Bjerså, Bibi Kennergren, Helena Wigert and Ingegerd Bergbom Sub-co mmittee: Registration Marcelo Valderrama, Linda Berg, Bibi Kennergren and Jehad O. Al-Halabi Sub-committee: Poster Kaety Plos, Marianne Gustafsson, Susanna Arveklev Höglund and Ida Lyckestam Thelin Conclusion The conference reported to be a success and of interest to many participants. The goals were achieved and the conference concluded with the announcement of the 3 rd European STTI conference to be held in June 2016 in Netherland. 25th of June, updated 2 nd of July, 2014 Jehad O. Al-Halabi and Margret Lepp 2 nd European STTI Conference in Gothenburg, Sweden, June16-18, 2014 Report Page 8