Disparity in conference registration cost for delegates from low- and middle-income backgrounds

This study aimed to describe the expense-associated barriers to a selection of international emergency medicine and critical care conferences, in terms of registration cost and out-of-pocket expense.MethodsA cross sectional, retrospective design was used. Registration cost variables (cost, waivers, discounts and scholarships) were collected from a cohort of international emergency medicine and critical care conferences held during 2016. The World Health Organization Purchasing Power Parity index was then applied to calculate an equitable registration cost for delegates from South Africa, Brazil, Turkey, China, Australia, Germany and the United States for each conference.ResultsTwenty conferences were included. Eight conferences (36%) offered discounted rates, and another eight offered scholarships for low- and middle-income country delegates. Calculated, equitable registration rates were 2.6, 1.9, 1.9, 1.7, 0.9, 1.1 times lower than quoted respectively for South Africa, Brazil, Turkey, China, Australia and Germany compared to the rate in United States dollar. Only one conference provided equitable registration rates for all test-countries.DiscussionCurrent international conference registration costs (despite discounts, waivers and scholarships) are likely a barrier to including low- and middle-income delegates in the educational, networking and promotional opportunities that conferences provide. Conference organisers should consider restructuring registration costs to encoura...

Source: African Journal of Emergency Medicine - March 4, 2019 Category: Emergency Medicine Source Type: research