BSMT Symposium – Sheffield 2013

British Society Microbial Technology

Symposium

Friday 11 October 2013

Conference Evaluation Report

Microbiology of the Compromised Host

Zoe Walker; Raine Bolton & Satnam Sagoo

Education & Training Unit – Public Health England

A total of 66 delegates attended the above symposium. 57 (86%) returned a completed evaluation form; the remaining did not return a form. This evaluation report is based on the 57 returned forms

Course Content

Figure 1 shows the overall evaluation scores given for the scientific content of the day. Most (89%; 51/57) of the delegates evaluated the content and structure of the day as good and/or very good, 95% of the delegates found relevance of topics covered as good and/or very good and 93% considered the day to have mostly or fully met their expectations. Most (49/57: 86%) of the delegates said that the day would be useful or very useful to their work. Four delegates did not provide a score.

Presentations and discussion

Figure 2 shows the evaluation scores given for individual presentations and discussions. The majority of the sessions were evaluated as good and/or very good.

Conference Venue and Facilities

Figure 3 shows that the majority of the delegates evaluated the conference venue, general administration and delegate pack as good and/or very good; and where additional comments were provided, a few of the delegates suggested that more handouts of the presentations were provided in the delegate pack.


Additional Comments

Most delegates (88%; 50/57) provided additional comments a selection of these is provided below:

What was most enjoyed

Variety of speakers and topics

Illuminating to hear about microbiology from clinicians point of view

Great Scientific Programme

How the talks link into microbiology

Well structured and presented, renewed enthusiasm in subjects

Great speakers made an enjoyable day

Relevant and factual presentations

Excellent presentations and great exhibition

Useful tradeshow

Case studies – helps to re-energise our approach to sepsis

Networking and updates

Lots of space

What was least enjoyed

The Journey

Temperature of lecture theatre

Good talks but heard several before.

Location

Microphone sounds (too loud)

Hurrying of the discussion forum

Not enough seating at lunch

Where did you hear about the meeting?

Email

Notice Board in laboratory

Previous delegate

Training officer

IBMS Magazine

Website

Other comments/suggestions for improvement

Thankyou

Will powerpoints be on website

More emphasis on laboratory diagnosis/new methods of diagnosis

Handouts for all presentations

Great topics/great venue

Nice to have a meeting in the North. Maybe Leeds in the future?

More interact dialogue post each presentation.

Handouts for ALL presentations

Excellent day – fascinated from start to finish

Great environment, sufficient space, good facilities

Suggestions for next topic

Point of care testing for microbiological diagnostics

TB/ Mycobacteria

Future of Pathology in the NHS

Automation – new ideas, evaluation, impact on future of biomedical science/career, cost implications

Antimicrobial resistance, mycobacterial infections

HIV related infections

Meningitis related infections

When does a commensal become a Pathogen, when does a Pathogen become a Commensal

C. difficile

Does the “New” future of pathology affect the clinician?

Improving TB techniques

STI’s

Microarrays

Virology

Molecular significance in diagnosis

Lyme disease

Parasites lectoparasites

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