Results of Survey (April 05, 2009)
Members provided the following key comments and suggestions for improvements. These were seen as constructive and most were seen as improvements that could be implemented easily. Specific short term actions are shown below.It was agreed not to reintroduce the chat site, mainly to prevent abuse of site.
Promotion of TIAFT and forensic toxicology
Generally favourable responses about TIAFT, some suggested we organise training programs, provide more regional meetings, promote clinical toxicology more and provide more interdisciplinary interaction of toxicology with other relevant areas such as the law and genetics for example.Meetings
Members that responded attended on average 3 meetings in last 5 years, range 1-4.Suggestions included holding workshops with meetings, arrange more local "regional" meetings, say every second year (eg South East Asia/Australasia), increase number of grants to meetings, increase joint meetings with USA society (SOFT), and have a discount for young scientists attending meetings, ie 30%.
Responses indicated that meetings were generally well organised, but comments included holding meetings in more accessible locations, first time attendees should be introduced and giving some induction to style of meeting, and ensure posters sessions are with sponsors to facilitate interaction with all.
Web site
As to web page respondents gave a good rating. Median response was 7, range 1 to 8.Suggestions for improvements included providing a list of pharmacokinetic data, re-introduce toxicology chat room or on-line forum, make it clearer how to access members section and obtain password, links to library sites, access of advertised jobs, link to high impact papers, increase scientific content on web page and provide "scientific (toxicology) news or advances", include posters from meetings (source of valuable data for many members).
Bulletin
The rating of the bulletin was overall good. Median score was 7, range 3 to 9.Comments were generally to improve content. Suggestions included: increase scientific content, make issues more relevant - last two issues were out of date when published and a waste of space, have feature articles for different regions of world, less advertising for next meeting (details are available on web), more expert opinions and trends, more case notes, publication of best paper and more issues.
75% of responses were happy to have bulletin only available electronically. It was agreed to ask members at next AGM if Bulletin could be made available just electronically. This would save over $US20,000 annually.
Free Comments
Comments were to increase forensic toxicology in developing countries, reintroduce TIAFtnet, more support for students, provide better identification guidelines - currently not strict enough and out of sync with other organisations, reintroduce merchandising, have promotion - not well known outside immediate membership.Actions and Priorities:
- Develop a program to allow DCF members to visit a laboratory for training purposes, perhaps funded by a sponsor
- Continue to promote regional/local toxicology meetings endorsed by TIAFT
- New editor to ensure adequate scientific content in future editions of Bulletin
- Update content and links on website, especially TIAFT constitution, TIAFT Brochure, Bulletin
- Provide more content in relation to case notes and other articles - possibly a job facilitated by new Bulletin editor.
- Ensure all past meeting abstracts and proceeding papers are loaded onto web site (last one is 2004).
- Add the case notes published after 2003 to the case notes archive
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