The material was supported by an educational grant from Ferring HOW TO WRITE AN ABSTRACT Paul Devroey, MD, PhD Director of Education, IFFS

Consideration on Fertility and Sterility November 2009

Which Type of Abstract? Which Type of Study? Historic cohort study Retrospective and analysis Laboratory based study Systematic review and meta-analysis In vitro and in vivo study Clinical study Retrospective non-randomized study Source Fertilty and Sterility November 2009

Which Type of Abstract? Which Type of Study? (continued) Retrospective cohort study Retrospective case series study Retrospective clinical study Retrospective data review Cross-sectional study Source Fertilty and Sterility November 2009

Which Type of Abstract? Which Type of Study? Pilot study Prospective cohort study Meta-analysis Systematic review Randomized controlled trial Absent in Fertilty and Sterility November 2009 Source Fertilty and Sterility November 2009

Which Type of Abstract? Which Type of Study? To be AvoidedPreferred Historic cohort studyProspective cohort study Retrospective non- randomized study Prospective randomized controlled trial Retrospective case series study None Systematic review and meta-analysis Systematic review Systematic review and meta-analysis Meta-analysis

Preferred Type of Abstract and Study Level of Preference Pilot study ++ Prospective cohort study + Randomized controlled trial +++ Meta- analysis ++

Preferred Type of Abstract and Study Probability of Acceptance Pilot study ++ Prospective cohort study + Pilot study +++ Meta-analysis +++ Historic cohort study -

Pilot Study Innovative idea Mechanistic study Small sample Judgement positive Conclusion to start trial –Preferentially randomized controlled trial

Randomized Controlled Trial State of the art –Blinded –Sealed envelopes Computer randomized list Primary end point (only one) Secondary end points Power calculation Level of significance

Randomized Controlled Trials (examples) RCTPrimary End Point Replacement of one day 3 versus one day 5 embryo Ongoing pregnancy rate hCG triggering versus hCG agonist triggering in antagonist cycle Number of MII oocytes Programming of antagonist cycles with or without estradiol priming Avoiding weekend oocyte retrievals

Proposal of Abstract Design Objective Is day 5 ET preferential to day 3 ET? DesignRCT MethodsICSI Primary end pointPregnancy rate Results 15% increased pregnancy rate after day 5 ET Conclusions Day 5 ET is preferential to day 3 ET ReferencesX Y Z

Which is the Perspective of an Abstract? To be presented on scientific meetings –Oral presentation –Poster presentation To be cited as an abstract To be written in a peer reviewed journal To be cited as a paper

An Abstract Not Well Documented (example) Objective Does varicocele influence testicular volume? Design Retrospective clinical study Methods 150 infertile patients with, and 299 without varicocele Primary end point Semen analysis, serum FSH, LH and testosterone levels Results Semen density and serum FSH correlated with testicular volume in patients without varicocele Conclusions Presence of varicocele influences testicular function ReferencesBonde JPE, et al Lancet 1998

Evaluation of Properly Performed Abstract in Fertility and Sterility November 2009 DesignAbstracts (n=26) Prospective9 (35%) Non-prospective17 (65%)

Evaluation of Properly Performed Abstract in Fertility and Sterility March 2013 DesignAbstracts (n=35) Prospective12 (34%) Non-prospective23 (66%)

Evaluation of Properly Performed Abstract in Human Reproduction 2012 DesignAbstracts (n=23) Prospective6 (26%) Non-prospective17 (74%)

Evaluation of Properly Performed Abstract in Reproductive BioMedicine Online 2013 DesignAbstracts (n=13) Prospective2 (15%) Non-prospective11 (85%)

Conclusions

The majority of published abstracts does not comply with evidence-based medicine It is of paramount importance to initiate a correct study design Avoidance of studies with retrospective and historical nature

Conclusions Prospective studies are mandatory and preferred Every abstract has to be viewed as a highly cited paper in a peer reviewed journal

CODA Accepting reseach in our centers based on –pilot studies –prospective studies –randomized controlled trials This type of research does not encounter competition

CODA High acceptance rates of abstracts and manuscripts are predictable Randomized controlled trials (RCT) are prone to be cited in meta-analysis