Evaluation of continuing education in health education: the Society for Public Health Education's 1983, 1984 and 1985 mid-year scientific symposia.

The Society for Public Health Education's (SOPHE) first three mid-year scientific symposia were evaluated three months after each meeting with questionnaires mailed to all national SOPHE members who attended and a 10% sample of members who did not attend. 3% of SOPHE members attended the first meeting, rising to 7% and 12% in subsequent years. Persons spending their time in direct education and program planning/development and persons less active in health education professional organizations were under-represented at the meetings. About 90% of those who attended the meetings learned something that they had applied to their health education work. A third to a half had made contact with another health educator on health education business, and about one fifth had increased their participation in SOPHE affairs due to the meeting. Those who attended the mid-year meetings were significantly more likely to plan attendance at the next annual meeting than those who did not attend. Over half of those polled felt that SOPHE should continue to hold mid-year meetings; most of the rest were not sure. Strengths and weaknesses of the individual meetings are discussed, as well as suggestions for improvement, topics and forums for future meetings.