1. Preparing Abstracts and Poster Presentations
Keri T. Holmes-Maybank, MD
Division of Hospital Medicine
Medical University of South Carolina

2. Learning Objectives
Residents will learn to prepare an abstract for submission to a scientific conference.
Residents will learn to prepare a poster for presentation at a scientific conference.
Residents will identify elements of successful abstracts and posters.
Residents will identify pitfalls of unsuccessful abstracts and posters.

3. Key Messages Successful abstracts and posters are heavily edited.
Successful abstracts and posters follow the guidelines and goals of the scientific conference.
Successful abstracts and posters are concise and focus on a few key points.
Successful abstracts and posters have clearly linked learning objectives and conclusions.

4. Why give a presentation?
Share knowledge
Experience presenting
Preparation for manuscript publication(34-77% of posters are published in p-r journals)
Feedback and criticism
ACGME requires residents to participate in scholarly activity
Separate yourself from other employment or fellow candidates

5. What should be presented?
Clinical practice, education, or research
Common diagnostic, therapeutic, or management dilemmas
Unique or important teaching points
Increases awareness of condition
EBM
Unusual presentation, complication, management
Proper or new diagnostic strategy
Cost effective approach
Rare

6. Where to present? Society of General Internal Medicine
Southern Society of General Internal Medicine
American College of Physicians
South Carolina Chapter American College of Physicians
Society of Hospital Medicine
Subspecialty organizations

7. Abstract
Very concise statement/summary of the major elements of your vignette, research, or innovation
Submit to scientific organization for consideration of presentation at the organization’s conference

8. Poster vs. Oral Oral Poster Only top abstracts
Usually 8 minutes followed by question and answer
Poster
Large formatted
Set up with other presenters in lecture hall
Set time – attendees will walk by and have opportunity to discuss poster

9. Getting started… Ask your attending if good case
Collect history and physical, progress notes, relevant labs and imaging
Do literature review
Start by writing what made you interested
Write the case presentation

10. Specifications Each organization has its own specifications
Length
Format
Read directions!!!!

11. Writing an abstract – 4 C’s
Concise – no excess wordiness or information
Clear – readable, well-organized
Cohesive – flows
Complete – covers the major points

12. Abstract Tips Active voice, consistent and correct verb tenses
Simple, short sentences
Grammar correct - The Chicago Manual of Style: The Essential Guide for Writers, Editors, and Publishers
Eliminate unnecessary words
Avoid medical jargon
Generic RX
Don’t use >3 abbreviations-spell out first, common
NEVER “first case ever reported”
EDIT, EDIT, EDIT

13. Abstract Content Tips Clear take home message
Design around 1-3 key points/objectives
Simple and concise
Don’t be emotionally attached to details
Omit details not essential to the main message
Want your audience to understand why your case is of interest to them

14. Scientific Abstract
Introduction
Methods
Results
Discussion

15. Innovations Abstract Statement of Problem or Question
Objectives of Program/Intervention
Description of Program/Intervention
Findings to Date
Key Lessons Learned

16. SSGIM – Vignette Abstract
Learning Objectives
Case Presentation
Discussion

17. ACP – Vignette Abstract
Introduction (can omit and go straight to case)
Case description
Discussion

18. SHM – Vignette Abstract
Case Presentation
Discussion
Conclusion

19. Title Interesting Short Descriptive Summary
Do not give everything away

20. Authors Presenter should be first author
Attending should be last author

21. Affiliation
Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina

22. Title NEW ONSET SEIZURES: REEMERGENCE OF INACTIVE SARCOIDOSIS
Temeia Martin,MD (Resident); William Moran, MD
Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC

23. SSGIM - Learning Objectives
Only 1-3 objectives
Clear, concise
Clear link to conclusions
Action-oriented
Recognize
Diagnose
Assess
Treat
Distinguish
Manage
Identify
NOT – know or understand

24. ACP - Introduction
Describes context of the case and explains relevance and importance
Usually 3-ish sentences

25. Case Presentation BRIEFLY describe case Only PERTINENT info
Pertinent HPI, ROS pos/neg, PMHx, SocHx, FamHx, Rx
Pertinent PE findings pos/neg, diagnostic studies, interventions/treatment
Patient outcome
Only PERTINENT info

26. Discussion Emphasize key points Importance of this case
Different/unique
Implications: teaching, practice, research?
Future: do differently?
****Make sure is clearly linked to objectives****
Concise

27. SSGIM Abstract Criteria
Clarity of presentation
Concise, complete, organized, well-written, focused objectives
Significance/relevance to general internal medicine
Unique, interesting. Contextualizes and describes impact on clinical practice in internal medicine, teaching/education or future research
Teaching value
Offers important diagnosis, physical examination, or management pearls

28. Why not accepted? Poor presentation Weak discussion
Lack of originality
Inadequate support
Conclusions not tied to learning objectives
Objectives not clearly stated

29. Successful Abstracts Follow the guidelines/directions Well-written
Meets goals of conference
Basis of future work

30. POSTER PRESENTATIONS
To distill down to a brief presentation effectively requires clear thinking, careful planning, and concise, efficient communication.
Best clinical vignette posters are those that make a small number of points(even just one) clearly and succinctly.

31. Poster Content Tips Clear take home message
Clear why your case is of interest to audience
Design around 1-3 key points
Don’t be emotionally attached to the details
Omit details not essential to the main message
Do not include abstract unless required - redundant

32. Poster Construction
Abstract is the basis
Judicious use of more detail

33. Poster Tips BULLET POINTS – simple and concise - PHRASES
Orderly, left to right
Organized - Easy to follow flow of info
Use white space – not overly dense with text
AVOID CLUTTER – simple, user friendly
Use no more than 4 colors
No more than 3 sizes of font
No smaller than 24 point
San Serif fonts: ARIAL, Trebuchet MS, Helvetica
Make it visual – images, tables

34. Remember Anyone who views your poster walks away with key information
10-10 rule (10 seconds from 10 meters) - Draw them in
Goal to share information and have many viewers

35. Poster Outline Title Authors, institution, location
Follows abstract outline plus conclusions

36. Title Center, All caps, Largest font on poster
Smaller font for author, institution, city, and state
Upper and lower case for author, institution, city and state

37. ACP Introduction Describe the clinical context and relevance
1-3 sentences/phrases
Bullet points if possible

38. Case Presentation BULLET POINTS Clear, concise Only pertinent info
Do NOT be emotionally attached to details
Omit any information not relevant to main message

39. Case Presentation Brief Relevant HPI Relevant PMHx, SocHx, FamHx
Ros pertinent positive/negative
PE pertinent positive/negative
Pertinent Laboratory, biopsy, and imaging
Hospital course
Treatment

40. Discussion Importance of this case to audience
Support your conclusions
Lessons learned
Subheadings for your main message:
diagnostic criteria, diagnostic modalities, unusual presentation, description of biopsy results, treatments, guidelines, possible mechanisms

41. Conclusions TAKE HOME MESSAGE May be all your audience sees
Emphasize key points

42. Images ***Real draw to attendees in vignettes***
***Center, top (under title) of poster***
Large, clear
Use arrows
Review with radiologist

43. Figures and Tables Use graphs for a purpose NOT to dress up
Emphasize learning points
Simple - Not too many columns or rows
Label graphs very clearly
Horizontal labels

44. References Really small font
If necessary can print on separate sheet and attach to bottom right corner

45. Attendings Have your attending review your poster
Provide constructive feedback
Rehearse your overview
Practice for judges questions

46. Getting Your Poster Made
Lisa Fennessy, Art Services
Send the proof to Lisa Fennessy by – no pdf
Lisa will print proof same day
Edit proof (maybe several times)
Final proof
Send the final one week before need poster

47. Etiquette Prepare a 1-2 minute summary of your poster
Dress professionally
Stand by poster – expected by mtg coordinators
Be prepared to answer questions from the judges
Wait for readers to finish
Make eye contact - Put down any food or drink when discussing poster
Know the flow of your poster and refer to it
Don’t get tipsy before or during presentation

48. ACP Poster Judging Criteria
Significance – increase understanding of a disease, improve the diagnosis or treatment
Presentation – logical, interesting, clearly written, free of grammatical problems
Visual impact – effective, value of figure and graph
Interview – knowledgeable, conversant

49. SSGIM Poster Judging Criteria
Poster Presentation – outstanding organization, excellent poster format, effective illustrations, appropriate amount of words
Learning objectives – clearly stated learning objectives, tied to conclusions, supported by data
Content – clear, concise case description, all RELEVANT patient information, info well organized
Teaching/educational value – valuable to internists, increases understanding of disease, improves diagnosis or treatment of disease state
Overall

50. SSGIM Most Common Pitfalls
Objectives not clearly stated (content)
Inappropriate amount of words(too many)
Conclusions are not tied into learning objectives (conclusions)******

51. Insert Poster Title Here Your institution’s name here
Your name here
Your institution’s name here
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
CONCLUSIONS
Figure 1..
Figure 2.
CASE DESCRIPTION
DISCUSSION
REFERENCES

53. References
Pierson DJ.How to Write an Abstract That Will Be Accepted for Presentation at a National Meeting. Respir Care 2004;49(10):1206 –1212.
Writing a Clinical Vignette (Case Report) Abstract. Wwwacponline.org/residents_fellows/competitions/abstract/prepare/cli nvin_abs.htm
Clinical vignette submission info. wwwsgim.org/index.cfm?pageId=1138
Estrada C. ACP, SGIM Clinical Vignette Competition: Write an Abstact to Win!
Ismail MK. How to write an abstract: abstract submission & poster presentation.
SGIM 29th annual meeting. Vignette Guidelines.
Barrett NF. Developing the successful clinical abstract. evaluations.com/_pdfs/clinabst.pdf
Southern Society of General Internal Medicine. Southern SGIM call for vignette submissions.

54. References
Society of General Internal Medicine Annual Meeting Important Dates.
Education/AcademicandResearch/Overview/content.htm Tulsky A, Kouides R. Abstract Presentations. What do SGIM Presenter Prefer? J Gen Intern Med 1998;13:
Willett LL, Paranjape A, Estrada C. Identifying Key Components for an Effective Case Report Poster: An Observational Study. J Gen Intern Med 2008;24(3):
American College of Physicians. Internal Medicine. Preparing a Poster Presentation.
Hamilton CW. A Stepwise Approach to Successful Poster Presentations. Chest 2008;134: