Thomas Engelsma went on a work visit to the Annual Meeting of the International Academy of Health Preference Research (IAHPR), Enschede, from September 29 to October 1, 2025.
Thanks to the work visit grant from APH Aging & Later Life, I had the opportunity to join some amazing colleagues and attend the 16th Annual Meeting of the International Academy of Health Preference Research (IAHPR) in Enschede. My primary goal was to gain a deeper understanding of the field of health economics and health preference research, and to learn how these approaches could complement my own work on ageing and cognitive impairment.
The conference offered a rich and diverse program, including sessions on developing and testing instruments, engaging stakeholders, and methodological advances in health preference research. The event also featured poster sessions, elevator talks, and networking opportunities during breaks and the conference dinner. During the conference, I delivered a talk on the usability of a digital discrete choice experiment (DCE) for people living with cognitive impairment or dementia. Presenting was both exciting and challenging, as I was sharing our qualitative findings from a usability study in a room filled mostly with quantitative researchers who apply very different methodologies. Despite these differences, the audience was highly engaged, offering insightful questions and ideas that broadened my perspective for future work.