Seminar for specialists to exhibit and debate the results of the research carried out by the Foundation on health information and decision-making on the part of users (May 27, 2005)

Project led by Professor Montserrat Busquets, of the Department of Fundamental Nursing and Surgical Medicine and Professor Jordi Caïs, of the Sociology and Organization Studies at the University of Barcelona, both of the University of Barcelona. The project was funded by the Víctor Grífols i Lucas Foundation.

The principle purpose of this study was to identify whether people suffering from illness receive sufficient information so as to understand what is happening to them and to enable them to actively participate in the treatment and care processes. The study took as its working hypothesis the assumption that ill people can make their own choices, if they are given enough information and support.

The research was carried out by the Foundation with the aim of identifying the active participation of health system users in taking clinical decisions affecting their health. After the presentation of the results, these were discussed by a group of specialists.

Speakers:

Professors Montserrat Busquets and Jordi Caïs, nurse and sociologist (respectively), from the University of Barcelona.

Participants:

Pilar Antón. Professor of the Nursing School at the University of Barcelona.
Montserrat Artigas. Head of the Customer Service and Quality Division in the Catalan Health Service.
Margarita Boladeras. Professor of Moral Philosophy at the University of Barcelona.
Ester Busquets. Nurse and Philosopher at the Borja Institute of Bioethics.
Josep Maria Busquets. Secretary of the Bioethics Committee in the Department of Social Health and Safety of the Catalan State Government.
Victòria Camps. President of the Víctor Grífols i Lucas Foundation.
Montserrat Casamitjana. Coordinator of the Breast Cancer Prevention Programme at the Hospital del Mar in Barcelona.
Jordi Colobrans. Professor of Communication Sciences at the Ramon Llull University, Blanquera Foundation.
Ma Carme Comella. Coordinator of ACARD (Catalan Cardiology Association).
Esther Corrales. Specialized Nursing Clinic of the Catalan Oncology Institute (ICO), Duran i Reynals Hospital.
Tomàs Cortadellas. Gynaecologist of the Breast Pathology Unit at the Vall d’Hebron University Hospital.
Xavier Duran. Science Journalist at TV3.
Susanna Escamellas. Àgata Group, Voice of the Catalan Women’s Association for Breast Cancer.
Paz Fernández Ortega. Nursing research coordinator in the Oncology Unit at the Catalan Oncology Institute.
Joan Manuel García Jorba. Professor of Sociology and Organizational Analysis in the Economic and Business Sciences Department at the University of Barcelona.
Maria Gasull. Professor and Head of the Educational Area of Legislation and Ethics at the University Nursing School of the Health Management Foundation at the Santa Creu and Santa Pau Hospital, Barcelona.
Melinda González. Interviewer of the study presented at the seminar.
Albert J. Jovell. General Director of the Josep Laporte Library Foundation and President of the Spanish Forum of Patients.
Meritxell Mollà. Radiotherapist at the Teknon Oncology Institute.
Milagros Pérez Oliva. Journalist and editor of the Society Section of El Pais newspaper.
Begoña Román. Professor of Catalan Philosophy Faculty at the Ramon Llull University.
Isabel Rubio. Coordinator of the Teknon Oncology Breast Unit.
Ana Torrente. Nurse at the Breast Pathology Unit at the Germans Trias i Pujol University Hospital of Badalona.
Ander Urruticoetxea. Doctor in the Breast Care Unit at the Catalan Oncology Institute.

The full study results, together with the conclusions, can be consulted on the Foundation’s website.