With the fifth annual Cayman Islands Healthcare Conference just around the corner, delegates from last year’s conference have confirmed that the healthy messages imparted at the event have made a significant impact on their lives.
From 20th to 22nd November attendees at the Cayman Islands Healthcare Conference, taking place at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, will hear important advice on a wide range of health-related subjects, under this year’s theme: ‘Winning the war against chronic non-communicable diseases’.
But recent research has shown that delegates do more than simply listen to the information on offer; they act upon that advice as well.
Nine months after last year’s conference, delegates were sent a survey to find out what lifestyle changes they had made that had been prompted by attending the conference.
From that research, it was noted that over half the respondents had made changes to their physical health, with 21% making a ‘significant positive change’ and 42% making a ‘positive change’. Such changes included making better choices when it came to their diet, increased levels of activity and drinking more water.
However it wasn’t just the delegates who had benefitted from attending the Healthcare Conference last year, their families also gained as well. 8% of delegates who responded to the survey said that they had made a ‘significant positive change’ to the health of their family, while 37% had made a ‘positive change’ and 28% had made ‘some change’.
These changes included taking time to talk with the family, eating together as a family, creating a better work/life balance and eating healthier together.
An improvement in the way people dealt with their mental health was also recorded, as a result of people attending the conference, with an impressive 68% of respondents making a change such as taking breaks when feeling stressed, undertaking exercise, as well as breathing exercises, and meeting with a group of likewise individuals throughout the month to talk through any problems.
“Making a positive impact on the health and wellness of the Cayman Islands was always a core goal of these events and the Ministry is delighted that this survey demonstrates exactly the results we were hoping for”, Hon Osbourne Bodden, Minister for Health, Sports, Youth & Culture said.
Overall, the surveyed delegates felt that the Cayman community has promoted more wellness programmes and fun physical activities since last year’s conference, with 71% saying they had noticed more publicity on these types of programmes and events. As a result, some joined weight loss programmes and one attended a smoking cessation programme.
Committed sponsors this year include: Tenet Healthcare, Tower, Cayman Islands Health Services Authority, Dart, Health City Cayman Islands, CONCACAF, UnitedHealthcare Global, Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Cleveland Clinic, Baptist Health International, Marsh, Cerner, BritCay, University of California-San Diego, Aitheras Aviation Group, Aon Risk Solutions, CINICO, Broward Health, The Wellness Centre, Fidelity, Heart Health Centre, Saint Luke’s Mid-America Heart Institute, Generali and many other exhibitors and not-for-profit organisations.
Visit www.healthcareconference.ky to register or stay up to date on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/CaymanHealthcareConference
Caymanchamber.ky– November 2014
Radio Cayman– November 7, 2014
Caymannewsservice.com– November 10, 2014
Ieyenews.com– November 10, 2014
Loopcayman.com– November 11, 2014
Compasscayman.com– November 13, 2014
