[Evaluation of regional conferences on health status and the priorities of public health].

Based on the model of implement development conferences, the Regional Conferences (RC) on state of health and public health priorities took place in 20 regions between September 1995 and September 1996, the date of the National Health Conference. The evaluation of these conferences lasted for 3 weeks and 175 persons were interviewed by telephone. The results revealed a very high satisfaction index (9 out of 10). Those interviewed stressed the importance of such RC, which allow all protagonists in the field of local health and care to meet and exchange ideas. They also make participants more aware of the need for a public health spirit. Most of the reservations concerned the method of conducting the preliminary inquiry by questionnaire, and the composition of the jury. Most of the participants supported the conference conclusions, because they resulted from a broad consensus of opinion. The majority thought that the RC should continue, on condition that these first experimental meetings were followed by appropriate concrete initiatives.