The SPHeRE Network 12th Annual Conference 2026.

11 Mar 2026

Laura Jane McCarthy was delighted to present her poster “Women's experiences of shared decision-making in perimenopause consultations in general practice: A protocol for a qualitative study,” at the 12th annual SPHeRE conference in Dublin.

In February, Laura Jane had the pleasure of attending the SPHeRE Network 12th Annual Conference, an event that brought together researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to share innovative work in population health, health inequalities, and health services research. The conference showcased an impressive range of insightful presentations, highlighting the depth and diversity of ongoing research across Ireland and beyond. She has shared some of her reflections below:

A particular highlight was the keynote address delivered by Professor Susan Smith, Professor of General Practice at Trinity College Dublin and practising GP. As a PhD student conducting research in general practice, I found her presentation especially valuable. I am also grateful for her introduction to the Deep End Ireland Group, a network I had not previously been aware of and look forward to learning more about in the future. The conference also provided an excellent opportunity to connect with fellow PhD candidates and colleagues from UCC and other institutions, and to hear about the exciting progress being made in their research areas.

This is the second study of my PhD, which explores women’s perceptions and experiences of shared decision-making during perimenopause consultations. Sharing this ongoing work and receiving thoughtful feedback from conference attendees was very rewarding. The study is currently ongoing, and I look forward to returning to the conference next year to share my findings!