Special Interest Groups

Regional Networks

Connect with professionals in your geographic area for networking, collaboration and local support.

Australia and New Zealand (ANZ)

This Regional Network fosters connections between local researchers in a geographically remote region of the world. We aim to support and prepare emerging researchers for international opportunities through collaborations, mentorships and other projects year-round.

2020 Annual Report
2019 Annual Report

Canada-PRO

This Regional Network unites researchers, clinicians, patients and decision makers with a common interest in promoting and harmonizing patient-reported outcomes (PRO) use in Canada. We invite you to join us in discussing methodological issues and developments, generating new ideas, and collaborating on projects for the advancement of PRO research and application.

2020 Annual Report
2019 Annual Report

Chinese PRO

This Regional Network focuses on promoting research and education of PROs for the Chinese population by connecting with international efforts related to research and application of PROs. We facilitate networking for Chinese researches by supporting emerging researchers online, through collaborations, and at ISOQOL events.

2020 Annual Report
2019 Annual Report

Developing Nation

This Regional Network identifies the social and economic issues and concerns that impact health and health related quality of life in developing countries to inform future research, practice, and policy recommendations. It also serves as a link between the members of this SIG and other SIGs to bring these social and economic issues and concerns to audiences where they may not otherwise be represented. We invite you to join us in addressing the challenges of measuring the quality of life in developing countries, considering language, and cultural barriers, the ethics of research in situations of poverty, and reduced autonomy. 

German-Speaking Countries

This Regional Network promotes communication, interaction and collaboration between ISOQOL members from German-speaking countries.  We create a platform that enables the exchange of information, promotes research and education of PROs and facilitates networking and collaboration between researchers of all career stages, including clinicians, patients, colleagues from industry, government, regulatory agencies, not-for-profit institutions and all interested in advancing the science of quality of life (QOL) and related patient-centered outcomes (PCO) in German-speaking countries.

Ibero America

This Regional Network promotes communication, interaction and collaboration between ISOQOL members residing in an Ibero American country. We aim to increase the presence of Ibero Americans in international discussions of QOL research by supporting researchers locally and abroad.

2020 Annual Report
2019 Annual Report

Japan

This Regional Network aims to increase opportunities for Japanese professionals in HRQL to communicate and exchange valuable information. We facilitate collaborations on high-quality studies, create opportunities for information exchange, and disseminate the results with the Japanese research community as well as with wider Asian Pacific and global audiences.

2020 Annual Report

United Kingdom and Ireland (UK and Ireland)

This Regional Network focuses on use of PROMs research in the United Kingdom and Ireland by fostering engagement between policymakers, clinicians, industry colleagues, patients and researchers. We invite you to join us online or in person at our annual PROMs conference and other ISOQOL events.

2020 Annual Report
2019 Annual Report

Special Interest Groups

Connect with professionals who have a similar career focus.

Child Health SIG

This SIG unites professionals who share a common interest in the quality of life of children. We are open to new and interesting ideas that will foster improvements in child health and across the transition into early adulthood.

2020 Annual Report
2019 Annual Report

Health Preference Research SIG

This SIG promotes educational activities and scientific research related to health related preferences. We encourage our members to engage in organizational activities that support the growth and greater integration of health preference research.

2020 Annual Report
2019 Annual Report

Industry SIG (I-SIG)

This SIG connects individuals from academia with professionals representing the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device and consulting industries who share a common interest in the application of health related QOL research. We are interested in innovative methods and research related to COAs, including PROs.

2020 Annual Report
2019 Annual Report

Mixed Methods SIG

This SIG promotes the use of mixed methods research in the field of HRQL research by exploring the challenges and methodological solutions offered by this research paradigm, identifying opportunities for application of mixed methods research in the field, and defining good practice. Our ultimate aim is to share and learn best-practice methodologies that can be utilized to enhance the patient-centeredness of outcomes research.

Mixed Methods: Refers to techniques that combine elements of qualitative and quantitative approaches to research.

2020 Annual Report
2019 Annual Report

New Investigators SIG

This SIG provides professional development opportunities for:

• Graduate students
• Postdoctoral fellows who have completed their doctorate in the past five years
• Independent researchers who have recently transitioned to health related QOL research within the past five years

We provide early-career support to young professionals new to the field of HRQL research through a variety of online resources and in-person events.

2020 Annual Report
2019 Annual Report

Patient Engagement (PE) SIG

This SIG aims to ensure the patient voice is represented in ISOQOL activities through the advancement of patient engagement in HRQL research.  Not only do we discuss ways to incorporate the patient voice in HRQL research, but we also are here to support ISOQOL’s current and prospective Patient Research Partners (PRP).

2020 Annual Report
2019 Annual Report

Psychometrics SIG

This SIG explores the role of psychometrics in the development and evaluation of health related QOL measures. We seek to advance QOL research through the application of psychometric methods.

Psychometrics: Refers to a field of study and practice that deals with the theories and techniques of psychological measurement.

2020 Annual Report
2019 Annual Report

QOL in Clinical Practice (CP) SIG

This SIG focuses on methodology and implementation initiatives to advance the effective use of PRO measures across different medical care settings. Our ultimate objective is to improve the management and treatment of individual patients, medical decision-making, and patient-centered care.

2020 Annual Report
2019 Annual Report

Regulatory and Health Technology Assessment Engagement (R&HE) SIG

This SIG will routinely and actively engage with regulatory agencies and health technology assessment (HTA) bodies to address critical applied measurement issues raised by these entities or that emerge from their public communications (e.g., guidance documents, reflection papers, workshops). This collaboration embraces a broad measurement perspective and enables us to build scientifically-based patient-focused recommendations regarding the use of clinical outcome assessments (COAs) in the evaluation of therapeutic interventions aimed at advancing human health and well-being.

Response Shift SIG

This SIG explores when and why response shift occurs. Our ultimate goal is to help QOL researchers and health care professionals recognize and account for response shift when using PROs.

Response Shift: A change in the meaning of one’s self-evaluation of a target construct, i.e., during a research trial, a patient’s definition of mild pain versus intolerable pain could change.

2020 Annual Report
2019 Annual Report

Statistics SIG

This SIG connects statisticians working in the field of quality of life and provides a platform for communication, interaction and collaboration. Our aim is to identify and progress key areas for research and provide workshops and training for the wider ISOQOL membership.

Translation and Cultural Adaptation (TCA) SIG

This SIG advances the research of clinical outcome assessment (COA) translation and cultural adaptation. We promote the visibility of cross-cultural issues related to the development and use of COAs by promoting collaborations between academia, industry, consultants and pharmaceutical companies.

2020 Annual Report
2019 Annual Report

Teamwork

ISOQOL uses Teamwork, an online project management software, to provide SIGs and Regional Networks with an online community for collaboration and information sharing.

Use Teamwork on your phone! Download the app!

Basic Functions

Community

• Tell us about you by updating your Teamwork Profile.
• Introduce yourself to fellow SIG members by posting to an “Introduce Yourself!” message thread.
• Find individuals with similar interests to you by using the people function.

Information Sharing

• Talk to your fellow SIG members through Teamwork’s message function. Topics of message threads vary from methodology/application advice to grant/job opportunities.
• Share files, make changes and retain access to previous versions of documents through Teamwork’s file share function.
• Post links to useful resources through Teamwork’s link share function.

Collaboration

• Working on a collaboration with fellow SIG members? Use Teamwork’s task function to assign work and set deadlines.
• Keep track of a SIG’s accomplishments with the milestone function.

First Time?

To access Teamwork you must be a member of a SIG, Regional Network, Committee or Task Force. You can modify your SIG and Regional Network memberships at any time by signing into your ISOQOL online profile.

Once you have joined a SIG, ISOQOL staff will add you as a user and an invitation will be sent to your email inbox. You must follow the instructions in the invitation email to set up your Teamwork account. Staff checks for SIG membership changes about once a month, so if you want immediate access, follow up with an email to teamwork@isoqol.org.

Need Troubleshooting Help?

Visit Teamwork’s help page.

Please note that some of the articles on Teamwork’s help page provide instructions for “project administrators” (ISOQOL staff).  For example, adding and editing information for other users is something only ISOQOL staff can do.

Start a New SIG or RGN

Any five Society members in good standing may organize a Special Interest Group (SIG) or Regional Network (RGN) of the Society by requesting authorization in a signed petition addressed to the Board of Directors.

The petition shall include the proposed name, the specific area of interest, the scope and purpose of the proposed SIG, and CVs for the founding members. The petition shall be sent to the Executive Director for review.

The Executive Director shall forward the petition to the Board of Directors for review. If approved, the SIG’s charter will be adopted by the Society and the SIG will be listed as a membership option for members. The ISOQOL Executive Office may assist in organizing the SIG.

Contact

Get In Touch

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Fax: +1 (414) 276-3349
info@isoqol.org
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