Nursing research conferences: benefit or burden

The benefits for presenters and participants of three annual nursing research conferences were investigated. Results from 133 on-site program evaluations were compared to results of surveys developed to capture presenter and participant perspectives, 6-22 months post conference. Data from surveys revealed that descriptive exploratory studies (the majority of presentations) were evaluated as least useful. One third of participants reported that they attempted to apply research findings or clinical innovations to their area of practice. A unique finding of this study was that presenters experience post-conference benefits, such as publishing, consulting, presenting, and project expansion. The results of the post conference evaluations differed from the surveys some months after the conferences. Planners of continuing education programs are cautioned against future conference development based solely on the initial "glow" of on-site program evaluations. Study findings clearly suggest that the benefits of nursing research conferences to both participants and presenters far outweigh the burdens.