Using responsive evaluation to shape research: Engaging and collaborating with stakeholders in the international symposium on multimorbidity.

Abstract

Background: Multimorbidity (MM) is a growing global public health issue requiring interdisciplinary collaboration among researchers, healthcare professionals, policymakers, and patients. The third International Symposium on Multimorbidity, held in May 2024 in Bielefeld, Germany, provided a platform for knowledge exchange and stakeholder engagement to address key challenges in MM research and care.

Methods: The symposium followed a structured responsive evaluation approach with continuous stakeholder involvement. A pre-symposium survey was distributed to 116 international experts in the potential target audience; 85 responded, identifying the most pressing topics in MM. The lack of direct patient and policy maker involvement may have influenced the prioritization of certain topics.

Results: Key topics included medication management, coordinated and personalized care, methods for measuring MM, applications of artificial intelligence, and concerns regarding overdiagnosis and overtreatment. These results informed the symposium agenda, ensuring relevance to the professional community. Participants from 16 countries attended, reflecting widespread international interest. A post-symposium survey (response rate: 19%) indicated high satisfaction; 85.5% of respondents would recommend the event. Feedback highlighted the need for broader topic coverage, more practical applications, and enhanced networking opportunities. Limitations included the low response rate for the post-symposium survey and potential self-selection bias.

Conclusion: The symposium effectively facilitated discussion and knowledge exchange through a structured, stakeholder-driven format. Recommendations for future events include expanding topic variety, integrating practical components, improving logistics, and incorporating real-time feedback tools. These insights support ongoing advancements in MM research, policy, and clinical practice, emphasizing the importance of interdisciplinary and participant-centered approaches in academic event planning.