14 Oct, 11 | by BMJ Group
At the 14th European Health Forum Gastein (5-8 October 2011), a group of “Young Gasteiners” blogged live from the talks. A selection of their blogs are on the BMJ blogsite.
Apparently many people no longer trust scientists – this may be one of the reasons why educated youngsters are losing interest in studying science. We need to build bridges between science and the public, enabling them to make knowledgeable decisions.
12 Oct, 11 | by BMJ Group
At the 14th European Health Forum Gastein (5-8 October 2011), a group of “Young Gasteiners” blogged live from the talks. A selection of their blogs are on the BMJ blogsite.
The Health 2020 session at the European Health Forum Gastein (EHFG), sponsored by WHO Europe, provided a chance to discuss and contribute towards WHO’s developing regional health policy – Health 2020. The session discussed both the aims of the policy, and what capabilities will be needed to implement it.
This exposes an issue which goes to the heart of EHFG and the Young Gastein initiative in particular – the relationship between research and policy. There was an overall sense of frustration that the ever growing mountain of scientific research has not been taken up by policymakers. If the facts are clear – why has action not followed? more…
10 Oct, 11 | by BMJ Group
At the 14th European Health Forum Gastein (5-8 October 2011), a group of “Young Gasteiners” are blogging live from the talks. A selection of their blogs are on the BMJ blogsite.
The workshop, “Lessons from the East” provided an interesting overview on how Eastern countries are dealing with issues regarding existing resources, the financing of their health systems, and other problems.
The reforms and models presented by the speakers made me think critically about it. From my perspective as a student not yet not working professionally in the health field, the reforms, plans, and suggestions that were presented seemed a bit too idealistic. Theoretically they sound great and promising, but I doubt whether in practice they can be implemented. more…
20 Oct, 10 | by BMJ Group
At the recent European Health Forum Gastein, a group of “young Gasteiners” blogged live from the talks. A selection of the blogs are on the BMJ blogsite. Tessa Richards, assistant editor, BMJ, also attended the conference. You can read her blog and introduction to the “young Gasteiners” here.
Lots of information and data on an ageing population were presented at the lunch time workshop on ageing and disease prevention. The speakers managed to make already well known data look new and interesting and that’s what I will try to present to you in the following bullet points. more…
19 Oct, 10 | by BMJ Group
At the recent European Health Forum Gastein, a group of “young Gasteiners” blogged live from the talks. A selection of the blogs are on the BMJ blogsite. Tessa Richards, assistant editor, BMJ, also attended the conference. You can read her blog and introduction to the “young Gasteiners” here.
Health literacy is a big challenge in Europe nowadays. It is the capacity of people to meet the complex demands of health in modern society, so why is it so important? Research has shown that people with low health literacy are less knowledgeable about the importance of preventive health measures, they have a higher risk of hospital admission, and the additional costs of limited health literacy range from 3-5% of the total health cost per year. more…
13 Oct, 10 | by BMJ Group
At the recent European Health Forum Gastein, a group of “young Gasteiners” blogged live from the talks. A selection of the blogs are on the BMJ blogsite. Tessa Richards, assistant editor, BMJ, also attended the conference. You can read her blog and introduction to the “young Gasteiners” here.
Being a researcher you are, by the very nature of your socialisation within academia somewhat skeptical about commercial sponsorship of sessions within policy or research conferences. When coming to Gastein this year for the first time in the framework of the Young Gastein Forum, this view was at first much confirmed. Simply looking at the program, which really was a loose compilation of very distinct topics, makes you wonder how did the organisers end up with this set of issues if not for pleasing benevolent (session) sponsors? Given the former I went to my first session with rather limited expectations. more…
12 Oct, 10 | by BMJ Group
In the mountain resort of Bad Hofgastein in Austria, exercise is King. In early October the power walkers head for the mountains and noticeably less fit conference goers head for the European Health Forum Gastein.
Attending conferences which start early, finish late, and include lunchtime workshops as well as a smorgasbord of parallel sessions, can be hard work. But good speakers make the going easier and this year an optimistic one cheered the horses. more…
12 Oct, 10 | by BMJ Group
At the recent European Health Forum Gastein, a group of “young Gasteiners” blogged live from the talks. A selection of the blogs are on the BMJ blogsite. Tessa Richards, assistant editor, BMJ, also attended the conference. You can read her blog and introduction to the “young Gasteiners” here.
GOAL! Definitely the best, most interesting lunch I’ve ever been to, hands down.
I didn’t really know what to expect from the session, so when the five main speakers jogged in to the sound of a referee’s whistle dressed in blue-and-black-striped football shirts and shorts, I had an inkling that this wasn’t going to be your average boring business lunch. more…
