Presentation

Sharing decisions: What changes are needed?

Key words: integrated management, shared decisions, palliative care, dignified death, good clinical governance, patient empowerment and coordination of care.

The 38th edition of the Spanish Health Economics Association Conference will take place from 20 to 22 June 2018 in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria under the theme “Sharing decisions: What changes are needed? Sharing or extending the decision-making process to the largest number of players involved, except in exceptional cases, currently lies more in corporate poetry or academic dreams than in the crude and tangible reality of the healthcare system. Shared decision-making requires citizens, patients, clinicians, companies providing healthcare technologies and decision-makers to work together throughout the long healthcare journey, on both individual as well as community and social level. The outcome of this effort is demonstrated in a care plan in which the patient is the active and informed subject of the management of his/her illness. In order to determine this plan, it is important to understand what the person's and patient’s situation is and what actions are needed and required, as well as what options are available that best respond to these. In this context, tools based on evidence which are specifically designed to support these conversations can be useful and facilitate efficient shared decision-making in any context, from health policies to emergencies, diagnostic tests or treatments, going through social health care.

The thirty-eighth edition of the Spanish Health Economics Association Conference is a meeting point to debate and respond to the main challenges that emerge giving a voice to all players involved in the health of the population. Shared decisions can be specified from a micro, meso and macro level. On a micro level, clinical decisions are shared between doctor and patient. On a meso level, shared decisions are included in healthcare management (such as care integration or chronic plans) or between healthcare professionals. On a macro level, shared decisions involve the regulation of healthcare policies between the different levels—the state and the autonomous communities—or those shared in healthcare planning and organization. Each of these aspects will be debated in the Conference in order to explore what changes are needed to construct an environment in which interaction and coordination are a reality in our system.

A relevant issue that is still on the table without being resolved is how we best invest the available resources with the objective of maximizing health outcomes, taking into account the preferences of the population. Within this issue lies the debate regarding people who are nearing the end of their life, and the dilemma between offering: active treatments that seek to–even with no guarantee–prolong the life of the patient, and palliative care, which is focused on improving the wellbeing of those people at the final stages of life. Those decisions will only be appropriate if they are in line with the priority objectives of the patients for whom the treatment is intended.

In this regard, the theme of the 38th Conference is a collective invitation to openly reflect and discuss issues such as these, with the aim of ensuring that the decisions reflect the preferences and the values of our society. Patient needs to be accompanied for this, being informed and receiving explanations about the treatment options that can be offered. This must take into account the efficiency of the system, and the probability of each of these options obtaining results in terms of health benefit. All players in the system who are involved in healthcare decision-making must understand the needs, values and preferences of the person/patient. This is one of the new paradigms of current medicine: shared decision-making.

Furthermore, the Conference will hold discussions dealing with recurring topics in Health Economics that hold a current interest which are, in many cases, reinforced in the present. Some such examples are the issues which form the guide  of actions of i the Spanish Health Economics Associationand which find at the Conference an excellent framework for discussion and diffusion, based on scientific evidence provided by rigorous research projects that will be presented throughout the Conference. These aspects include, but are not limited to, promoting economic evaluation for its use in decision-making regarding healthcare financing, ensuring equity in health and in the provision of healthcare services, maintaining a commitment to the advancement of health policy evaluation, and facilitating the debate around possible improvements at all levels of healthcare management.

The Scientific Committee and the Organizing Committee would like to invite you to actively participate in the 38th Spanish Health Economics Association Conference, where we hope to offer a space for debate in which—as suggested in this year’s theme— all key players of our healthcare system can come together. It is exactly 30 years since the Conference have been held in the Canary Islands, so we are particularly looking forward to the arrival and involvement of our members and non-members to our island. Hopefully, the islands’ sun will shed some light on the debates that will take place.

Important dates

  • 19/01/2017
    New deadline for the submission of organised sessions
  • 26/01/2017
    New deadline for submissions
  • 26/03/2017
    Deadline for reduced fee registration

Committee

Organizing Committee

President
Laura Vallejo-Torres

Members
Ignacio Abásolo Alessón
Patricia Barber Pérez
Sara González Betancor
Beatriz González López-Valcárcel
Christian González Martel
Cristina Hernández-Quevedo
Miguel Ángel Negrín Hernández
Jaime Pinilla Domínguez
Alejandro Rodríguez Caro

Scientific Committee

President
Marta Trapero-Bertran

Members
Francisco Ramón Estupiñan Romero
Beatriz González López-Valcárcel
Ricard Meneu de Guillerna
Juan Oliva Moreno
Luz Maria Peña Longobardo
Fernando Ignacio Sánchez Martínez

Board of Directors

President
Eduardo Sánchez-Iriso

Vice-president 1
Laura Vallejo-Torres

Vice-president 2
David Cantarero Prieto

Secretary
Cristina Hernández-Quevedo

Treasurer
Toni Mora

Members
Carmen Pérez Romero
Javier Mar Medina
Ruth Puig Peiró
Fernando Ignacio Sánchez Martínez

Programme

Registration

Registration Fee

Up to 26 March (inclusive) After 26 March
AES members, new AES members and associates* 350€ 400€
Non-AES members 450€ 510€
Student AES members and associates** 100€ 150€
Student non-AES members 150€ 200€

7% IGIC included

*: Members of any association with which the AES holds a valid agreement are considered associates, as are members of any association that belongs to the Spanish Society for Public Health and Health Administration (SESPAS). All such associates must justify their membership in the association in question by sending a scanned copy of a document proving their membership (certificate, invoice, etc.) to the Conference Technical Secretariat (jornada@aes.es).

**: Applicants must attach to the registration form a scanned document which proves that they are a student.

The registration fee includes: session attendance, documentation, coffee, working lunches, welcome reception and conference dinner.

Payment method

  • Online payment through the conference website.

  • Bank transfer to AES:
    Acount number: 0081 0105 11 0001444048
    IBAN: ES09 0081 0105 11 0001444048
    SWIFT CODE: BSABESBBXXX
    Stating AES 2018 and the participant's name as reference. A copy of the bank transfer receipt must be sent to the Technical Secretariat.

  • Cheque made out to the Asociación de Economía de la Salud.

Registration Cancellation Policy

If a request is made to cancel a registration after it has been confirmed, given the problems this creates for the Conference organisers, AES will retain part of the registration fee. The amount retained will vary according to the date on which the cancellation is requested. Specifically, if the cancellation is requested:

  • Before 20 April (inclusive), 25% of the fee will be withheld and the remainder refunded once the conference has ended.

  • Between 21 April and 21 May (both inclusive), 50% of the fee will be withheld and the remainder refunded once the conference has ended.

  • After 21 May, 100% of the fee will be withheld.

Exceptions

In exceptional cases, and after the parties concerned have demonstrated the occurrence of a serious personal matter, the Board of Directors may exempt them from the corresponding withholding arising from either the registration, accommodation booking or both, with the full amount paid being refunded.

Accommodation

Hotel Cristina Las Palmas

Calle Gomera, 6
35008 - Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
See map

The Hotel Maresia Canteras Urban

Calle León Tolstoi, 1
35010 - Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
See map

Accommodation Fee

Double room for single use Double room
Hotel Cristina Las Palmas 95€ 109.25€
Hotel Maresia 42.50€ --

IGIC included

Payment method

  • Online payment through the conference website.

  • Bank transfer to AES:
    Acount number: 0081 0105 11 0001444048
    IBAN: ES09 0081 0105 11 0001444048
    SWIFT CODE: BSABESBBXXX
    Stating AES 2018 and the participant's name as reference. A copy of the bank transfer receipt must be sent to the Technical Secretariat.

  • Cheque made out to the Asociación de Economía de la Salud.

Registration Cancellation Policy

Similar to the policy set out for registration cancellation, the cancellation of a room booking in the hotels contracted by AES for accommodating conference attendees will result in withholding the amount paid, according to the following schedule:

  • Before 20 April (inclusive), 25% of the fee will be withheld and the remainder refunded once the conference has ended.

  • Between 21 April and 21 May (both inclusive), 50% of the fee will be withheld and the remainder refunded once the conference has ended.

  • After 21 May, 100% of the fee will be withheld.

Exceptions

In exceptional cases, and after the parties concerned have demonstrated the occurrence of a serious personal matter, the Board of Directors may exempt them from the corresponding withholding arising from either the registration, accommodation booking or both, with the full amount paid being refunded.

Submissions

General rules for the submission of abstracts:

  • The new deadline for submissions is January 26th.

  • Only abstracts sent via the online form will be accepted.

  • Authors can select Spanish, English or No Preference for the preferred presentation language. The abstract must be submitted in the selected language.

    • If No Preference is chosen, the scientific committee shall decide the presentation language (Spanish or English) and will be able to ask the author to submit the abstract in that language.

    • Selecting English as the preferred language does not guarantee that the presentation will be made in English. If the author speaks both languages, the scientific committee shall confirm the presentation language when the programme sessions are organised.

  • Authors will be able to indicate their presentation format preference (oral presentation or poster), but the scientific committee will make the decision on the final format of the paper.

    Remember, as a new feature this year, there will be a meeting for the AES Early Careers (AESEC), i.e. newly appointed researchers; predoctoral or postdoctoral having completed their doctorate in the last 5 years. At this meeting, the author will not present their work, because a leading expert in their field will hold the presentation/discussion, which will be followed by a short debate involving all those participating in the meeting.

  • If the abstract is accepted by the Scientific Committee in poster form, it should be submitted in electronic format and feature the following:

    • PowerPoint presentation (.ppt or .pptx).

    • The slide format must be VERTICAL 90 x 120.

    • Maximum 1 slide per poster.

    • Font size at least 24. Smaller font sizes might not display correctly on the screen.

    • Arial font (recommended).

    • PowerPoint special effects not accepted.

  • The abstract must not exceed 250 words.

  • The author responsible for the communication will be the one presenting the communication (oral or poster) during the conference. This should be indicated in the submission form

  • One person cannot be responsible for more than TWO papers.

  • Authors who have not registered before March 26th will have their abstracts removed from the programme.

  • Authors must choose a maximum of two key words from the following:

    • LIFESTYLES AND HEALTH BEHAVIOUR

    • ECONOMIC EVALUATION

    • ANALYSIS OF MEDICAL DECISION MAKING

    • VALUATION OF HEALTH STATUS

    • EFFICIENCY IN INSURANCE MARKETS AND HEALTH CARE PROVISION

    • LONG-TERM CARE

    • HEALTH SYSTEM EXPENDITURE AND FINANCING

    • COSTS AND PREVALENCE OF DISEASE

    • MANAGEMENT, INNOVATION AND ORGANISATION IN THE HEALTH SYSTEM

    • INEQUALITIES, EQUITY AND VARIATIONS IN CLINICAL PRACTICE

    • PHARMACEUTICAL EXPENDITURE AND DRUG POLICY

    • EVALUATION OF HEALTH POLICY AND HEALTH SERVICES

    • EXPENDITURE AND FINANCING OF THE HEALTH SYSTEM

    • DEMAND AND UTILISATION

    • ECONOMETRICS AND HEALTH ECONOMICS

    • SOCIO-ECONOMIC DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH

  • CONFLICT OF INTEREST
    Authors may describe any financial or personal relationship which can cause a conflict of interest regarding this article.

  • PROTECTION OF HUMAN SUBJECTS AND ANIMALS IN RESEARCH
    When experiments which have been carried out on human beings are described, it is essential to indicate whether the procedures followed comply with the ethical standards of the human experimentation committee responsible (institutional or regional), and in accordance with the World Medical Association and the Declaration of Helsinki. Hospital names, initials, or numbers must not be used, particularly in figures. When animal experiments are described, it is essential to indicate whether these have been carried out in accordance with the standards of an international research institution or council, or with a national law regulating the care and use of laboratory animals.

  • PATIENTS' DATA PROTECTION
    The authors must declare that they followed their institutions' protocols to access to the patients data and that was done with the unique purpose of the scientific investigation and scientific disclosure.

  • RIGHT TO PRIVACY AND INFORMED CONSENT
    The authors declare and guarantee that they are in possession of a document signed by the individuals whose personal data is included in the article (personal data being understood as any information associated with an identified or identifiable physical person, such as, for example, but not limited to: name and surname, address, telephone, or any type of health data, health data being understood as any information associated with the past, present or future physical or mental health of an individual, including, but not limited to, for example: images, analytical results, x-rays, etc.) authorising the inclusion of such data in the aforementioned article.

Organised Sessions

Specific rules for proposing organised sessions

Those interested may submit proposals for organised sessions with a minimum of three presentations, with or without discussants. These will be evaluated by the Scientific Committee and must comply with the following rules:


  • The new deadline for organised sessions is January 19th.

  • For each organised session, one single proposal must be submitted in writing; this must be endorsed by two AES members, who will act as coordinators of the corresponding session and will be responsible for the organisation and development thereof.

  • Proposals must be remitted through the Conference website.

  • Sessions will last 90 minutes.

  • Proposals must include
    • Names and contact information of the two AES members organising the panel.

    • Proposed title of the session.

    • Abstract and aims of the session.

    • Language of the session: Spanish or English. The session will be held in only one language.

    • For each of the presentations making up the panel, the following must be provided:

      • Names and contact information of authors.

      • Title of the presentation.

      • Abstract of the presentation (250 words), which must clearly indicate the objectives and content of the presentation, adhering to the format for remitting Conference abstracts.

      • Name of the discussants (where applicable).

      • Subject matter of the presentation (see list on the remittance form on the Conference website).

      • Declaration of conflict of interests.

  • Notification of acceptance of the session will be given to the organisers thereof. The Scientific Committee, along with the AES Board of Directors, reserves the right to propose the conditional acceptance of a session subject to the modification of the content of any of the proposed presentations on scientific grounds.

  • It´s necessary indicated If a session is not accepted by the Scientific Committee, each of the abstracts will be evaluated separately, within the ordinary abstract evaluation process.

  • The AES accepts no responsibility for the funding of organised panels. At the same time, the acceptance of organised sessions is independent of the funding thereof, and the sponsorship of the same will be offered to the Conference sponsors under the same criteria as all other sessions. The options and conditions of sponsorships can be consulted in the sponsorship dossier, which is available on request from the Conference Secretary's Office (jornadas@aes.es).

General Information

Venue

Auditorio Alfredo Kraus
Avda. Príncipe de Asturias, s/n
35010 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

Venue - Auditorio Alfredo Kraus

Organizes

AES
www.aes.es
Tel: 937552382 · secretaria@aes.es
Universidad de Palma de Gran Canaria

Technical Secretariat

Acto Serveis
C/ Bonaire, 7 - 08301 Mataró (Barcelona) | Tel. 93 755 23 82
jornada@aes.es

Partner Organisations


CESURM EASP Fedea Iberia SESPAS Tirma Universidad Las Palmas

Sponsors Organisations



Astellas Astra Zeneca BAYER Chiesi Gebro pharma GSK Hospitales San Roque Hospiten IEF MSD Novartis Sanofi

Technical Secretariat

Acto Serveis

Bonaire, 7 08301 Mataró (BARCELONA) | Tel. 93 755 23 82 | jornada@aes.es