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Report
1st Research Forum of the EAPC
Berlin, Germany, 7–10
December 2000
To
view the scientific programme and the presented abstracts, please
go to: http://www.kenes.com/eapcresearch
After
the first two years of its work, the Research Steering Committee
(RSC) decided that, in addition to the biennial European EAPC
Congress, a conference especially focused on research in palliative
care was necessary to spread information about research activities
and invite healthcare professionals to participate in discussions
on research issues.
This
conference endeavoured to provide training for researchers,
but also to give an overview
of ongoing research projects and recommendations for clinical
practice. It aimed to include healthcare professionals involved
or wishing to get involved in research in palliative care
from all European countries.
One
hundred and sixty abstracts had been submitted showing the
increased interest in research among palliative care specialists
and about 350 participants from 40 countries took part in
the discussions on problems currently facing research in palliative
care.
In
four lectures in plenary, two roundtable discussions as well
as 18 sessions, 50 experts from Europe and overseas reported
on topics of interest in research and evaluation, not only
on pain and symptom management, but also on other areas of
palliative care, such as ethical considerations or psychosocial
needs. Topics such as the legalisation of euthanasia
and sedation in palliative care, were also discussed in great
detail. The participation in the discussions was extremely
positive.
The
speakers came from Austria, Canada, France, Germany,
Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, the UK and the USA and represented the following
professions and specialties: physicians, nurses, social scientists,
ethicists, pharmacists, anaesthesiology, neurology, oncology,
pain therapy, palliative medicine, pharmacology, psychiatry,
psychosomatic medicine and statistics.
The
sessions with a combination of invited speakers and free communication
were well received, as were the poster presentations. Three
book prizes for the best posters were awarded.
The
Congress had the support and collaboration of the Deutsche
Gesellschaft for Palliativmedizin (DGP – German Society
for Palliative Medicine). The Congress had received Continuing
Medical Education (CME) accreditation from the German Association
for the Study of Pain (DGSS) and the Royal College of Physicians
of the UK.
Thanks
to the SOROS Foundation, a limited amount of sponsoring money
was available for participants from Eastern European countries,
which will be allocated by the President of the EAPC. The
Congress hosted the first meeting of OSI – EAPC –
ECEPT on collaboration and common projects.
The
Scientific Committee has received much positive feedback both
during and after the Congress. Participants stated that the
exchange of information and the expert discussion was very
enlightening.
The
Research Steering Committee is confident that the Congress
has provided a valuable input to the development of palliative
care within Europe, and hopes that many new ideas and plans
for future projects will stem from the events in Berlin.
We
would like to thank all those involved in the preparation
and running of the Congress, who helped to make this event
such a success.
Lukas
Radbruch, Chairman of the Scientific Committee, Germany
Franco De Conno, Chairman of the Research Steering Committee,
Italy
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