Rural Women's Health Conference Summary Report Summary Report  (PDF File, 1.82 Mb) August 13 -15, 2007 Omni Shoreham Hotel, Washington DC

Conference Evaluation

Plenary Sessions

Conference participants were asked to rate the following aspects of each plenary session on a scale of 1-5, with 1 meaning strongly disagree and 5 meaning strongly agree. The average response to each item is provided in Figure 1.

• The content matched title/expectations.
• The topic was well covered and informative.
• The topic was appropriate for the session.
• Material was presented in a clear and understandable manner.
• Documents/handouts were useful.
• Moderators started and ended session on time.
• Presenter(s) respected the time allotted for their presentation.
• There was sufficient time for discussion.

Figure 1: Plenary Session Evaluation Results

Each plenary session evaluation form also asked participants to provide feedback on their overall impression of the session. Participants made a variety of positive remarks about each of the plenary speakers. Many commented that they felt inspired and motivated by the speakers' messages. Participants also noted that they appreciated the various approaches used by the speakers, which kept the audience energized. Many stated that they were armed with valuable strategies to carry out in their own programs. Several noted that they felt encouraged to return to their communities to implement new approaches for eliminating the problems they face in rural women's health.

Breakout Sessions

Conference participants were asked to rate the following aspects of each breakout session on a scale of 1-5, with 1 meaning strongly disagree and 5 meaning strongly agree. The average response to each item is provided in Figure 2.

• The content matched title/expectations.
• The topic was well covered and informative.
• Material was presented in a clear and understandable manner.
• Documents/handouts were useful.
• Moderators started and ended session on time.
• Presenter(s) respected the time allotted for their presentation.
• There was sufficient time for discussion.

Figure 2: Breakout Session Evaluation Results

Each breakout session evaluation form also asked participants to provide feedback on their overall impression of the session. Participants offered a variety of positive feedback about the presentations and noted that they learned a lot from the sessions. According to participants, the breakout sessions featured several excellent speakers and sessions. Many participants stated that they were intrigued by some of the strategies that were shared. Several participants observed that the speakers were very knowledgeable in their fields and were, therefore, able to provide extremely effective presentations. Some of the participants remarked that they enjoyed seeing innovative ways to teach cutting-edge issues pertaining to rural women's health. Participants also made several comments about the high quality of handouts and presentations throughout the sessions. Respondents expressed appreciation about the level of speaker enthusiasm. They noted that they appreciated the valuable dialogue that developed during the breakout sessions, as well as the networking opportunities that the conference provided.

Breakout session participants also noted the value of the information they obtained from the speakers. They commented that they were excited to share information with their co-workers and their communities. Many were eager to replicate studies in their communities that they learned were successful in other parts of the country. The overwhelming majority of participants were impressed by the level of knowledge of the presenters and found the information provided to be extremely useful.

Overall Conference Content

On the third and final day of the conference, participants were asked to rate their responses to four specific statements on a scale of 1-5, with 1 meaning strongly disagree and 5 meaning strongly agree. The percent of participants who responded positively to each item is illustrated in Figure 3.

• I was satisfied with the overall relevance of the conference.
• I was satisfied with the overall knowledge of conference presenters.
• I am confident I can discuss the latest sex- and gender-specific research and programs to improve the health status of women, especially rural women.
• I am confident I can share strategies with national and regional change agents to enhance effective outreach to rural women and their families and increase support for women's programs and services

Figure 3: Overall Conference Content Evaluation Results

The overall conference evaluation form also asked participants to note some of the most significant things they learned during the conference. Some explained that they found the resources and information provided throughout the conference to be extremely valuable. Others stated that they learned the extent to which there is a need for improvements in the field of rural health, as well as the value of communities in creating solutions to health needs.

In addition, several participants noted a recurring theme—to be diligent in the field and keep pressing to find solutions to problems that they encounter. Participants expressed the need to engage themselves in their communities as a team to get things accomplished.

Many participants also noted they felt empowered by the messages they heard and realized how much power women have, as well as how much women have to contribute to the rural health issues that were discussed. Other participants noted they felt an increased level of confidence after attending the conference and were able to learn creative ways to solve the problems that they are experiencing.

In order to determine which sessions were found to be valuable and instructive, participants were asked which sessions were most useful to them. Overall, the responses varied, but there was a largely positive response to all plenary and breakout sessions. Specifically, many of the respondents expressed appreciation for the plenary speakers and noted that they found them to be motivating, inspirational, and educational. Conference participants also noted that they were able to gain a significant amount of knowledge from the breakout sessions.

Participants also articulated what they would like to see at future conferences. Some stated they would like to see more sessions focused on translating research into practice, while others expressed the need for examples of community resources in rural America. It was also noted that highlighting the health issues of girls, and not just women, would be appreciated. Additional issues that participants would like to learn more about in the future include women and nutrition, sustainability, dental/oral health, the politics of women's health, and topics related to the aging of women.

On the final day of the conference, participants were also asked to rate several aspects of the hotel services and logistical arrangements on a scale of 1-5, with 1 meaning poor and 5 meaning excellent. The topics that were rated ranged from the conference location to registration and onsite check-in. The average response to each item is provided in Figure 4.

Figure 4: Hotel and Logistical Evaluation Results

Participants were also asked to provide additional comments on the level of services they received while attending the conference. Many participants felt that the hotel and conference staff were extremely helpful. Others noted the usefulness of the conference Web site. Many also said they appreciated the convenient location of the hotel, which was a short distance from several restaurants and other activities. Overall, most participants said the conference was well-organized and the logistical arrangements were exemplary.

Additional comments made about the overall conference were:

1. The quality of the sessions was so high, it was difficult to choose which session to attend.
2. To encourage more people to participate in the conference, invite a local high school or women's clubs and organizations.
3. Some participants noted that they were surprised and overwhelmed by the level of interest and participation at the conference.

Current as of October 17, 2008