Writing and Presenting a
Research Abstract
Marian Limacher, MD
Director, CTSI Training and Professional Development Program
Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Professional
Development
Professor, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine
The UF CTSI is supported in part by NIH awards
UL1 RR029890, KL2 RR029888 and TL1 RR029889
Abstracts for Scientific Meetings
• Important for transmitting new information,
“cutting edge”
• Important for career development
• Important to become known in the field
• Important for you to get to know others in the
field, enhance networking opportunities
Abstract Basics
• One abstract per research question
• No duplicate abstracts at different meetings
• Goal: 1 manuscript per abstract
Why are abstracts rejected
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Dull topic, nothing new
No context provided
Small number of subjects
All talk, no data (“results will be discussed…”
All data, no talk
Poor readability
Sloppy
Abstract Format
• Read the instructions
• Format the “box” or other limitations
• Include:
– Introduction/background/purpose
– Methods
– Results
– Conclusions
Abstract format
• Introduction
– 1-2 sentences
– Include the research question (hypothesis) or
purpose at the end
– Avoid jargon, excessive abbreviations
– Assume reviewer(s) are not the most
knowledgeable in the field
Abstract format
• Methods
– Include study design
– Study population (#, age, M,F, inclusion criteria)
– What was measured
– How data was analyzed (if space), otherwise
include during the talk/presentation
Abstract format
• Results
– Main finding of the study – in words
– Give real numbers as well as significance
– Tables can be helpful
Abstract format
• Conclusions
– What do your findings mean
– Do not repeat results
– If you could have written your conclusion before
you knew your results – you don’t really have a
conclusion
Abstract Presentations - oral
• “The 10 minute talk”
– Garson, et al, Am Heart J 1986; 111: 193-203
• Write out every word: better to read than to
stumble or go over time
• Usual rule: 1 minute per slide (maximum 30
sec per slide for non-complex statements)
• Absolute maximum = 14 slides per 10 min.
Abstract presentation
• Preparing slides
• 20 point minimum (this is 32 point)
• This is 20 point
•
•
•
•
Black on white/light
Yellow/white on blue
Leave 10% margin
Avoid too much “glitz”
Abstract presentation
• Preparing slides
• 20 point minimum (this is 32 point)
• This is 20 point
•
•
•
•
Black on white/light
Yellow/white on blue
Leave 10% margin
Avoid too much “glitz”
Abstract presentation
• Preparing slides
• 20 point minimum (this is 32 point)
• This is 20 point
•
•
•
•
Black on white/light
Yellow/white on blue
Leave 10% margin
Avoid too much “glitz”
Abstract presentation
• Preparing slides
• 20 point minimum (this is 32 point)
• This is 20 point
•
•
•
•
Black on white/light
Yellow/white on blue
Leave 10% margin
Avoid too much “glitz”
Abstract presentation
• Preparing slides
• 20 point minimum (this is 32 point)
• This is 20 point
•
•
•
•
Black on white/light
Yellow/white on blue
Leave 10% margin
Avoid too much “glitz”
Abstract Presentations
• Avoid red lettering on blue backgrounds
– Hard to read
Blood pressure study
352-273-5661
Blood pressure study
352-273-5661
Blood pressure study
352-273-5661
Blood pressure study
352-273-5661
Blood pressure study
352-273-5661
Blood pressure study
352-273-5661
Blood pressure study
352-273-5661
Blood pressure study
352-273-5661
Blood pressure study
352-273-5661
Blood pressure study
352-273-5661
Blood pressure study
352-273-5661
Blood pressure study
352-273-5661
Blood pressure study
352-273-5661
Blood pressure study
352-273-5661
AFRICAN - AMERICANS !!
 Are you between the ages of 18 and 65?
 Have you ever been told that your blood
pressure is high?
 Are you on no medicine or only one medicine
for your blood pressure?
You may qualify for a study that is looking to
improve treatment for high blood pressure in
African-Americans.
If you qualify, you can receive up to $750 for
completion of the study. For details call the study staff at the
Division of Nephrology at 352-273-5661.
Abstract presentations
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Use horizontal format
Center all material
No more than 7 lines per slides
No more than 7 words per line
How to increase data per slide
without reducing readability
• Use title/heading area or draw a line under
title
• Use bullets, especially if the statement uses
more than one line
• Underline the points
• Use color
Slide tricks
1. Number the points
2. Use underlining above subheadings
Slide tricks
• Purpose
– Devise a new technique to keep your audience
awake
– Increase odds of publishing
Slide tricks
• Use color
– Methods
• 300 patients with CHF
• Admitted for syncope
• 100 M; 200 F
• All underwent Holter monitoring, EP testing, tilt
table
Inexcusable!!!
• “I know you probably can’t make out what’s
on this slide, but…”
• “I apologize for the complexity of this slide,…”
• “Ignore the details on this slide, I just want to
focus on …”
Slide construction
• Title for every slide
• Use phrases but should be readable
• Common abbreviations ok if appropriate
– Pts, M, F, CHF, LV, MI
– Be careful of language differences
– Try to avoid ** and footnotes (distracting)
Slide construction
• Tables
– Use if the numbers are important, rather than the
relationship
– Avoid more than 4 rows (for 2 columns)
– If 3 columns, use 3 or less rows
– For a “p” value column, list “NS” for p>.05
– For others use 0 before . “p<0.01”
Meta Analysis of Genetic risks for MI
OR
CI
Factor V Leiden for MI
1.26
.94-1.67
Factor V Leiden for
MI<55
Prothrombin Mutation
and MI
Prothrombin Mutation
and MI < 55
1.34
.94-1.91
.89
.59-1.35
1.86
.99-3.31
Boekholdt et al, Circulation 2001;104:3063-3068
Bar Graphs
• Used to compare results of different
treatment to different groups
• Use less than 6 bars
• (no more than 8 maximum)
• If showing paired, no more than 3 groups
• Label each bar
HT, Prothrombotic Mutations and Risk of
Venous Thromboembolism
Odds Ratio
11
12
10
8
4.4
6
4
2
3.5
1
0
HT-/Mu-
HT-/Mu+
HT+/Mu-
HT+/Mu+
[Rosendaal, 77 cases, 163 controls age 45-64]
Graphs
• Pie graphs show how an entire population is
distributed
• If showing %’s, indicate absolute numbers
somewhere on the slide
Examples
Examples
Graphs
• Line graph
– Shows a relationship between continuous
variables
0.05
Kaplan-Meier Estimates of Cumulative
Hazards for CHD for WHI
0.04
HR 1.29
0.03
nCI (11.02, 1.63)
aCI (0.85, 1.97)
0.0
0.01
0.02
E+P
Placebo
Time (years)
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
E+P
8506
8353
8248
8133
7004
4251
2085
814
Placebo
8102
7999
7899
7789
6639
3948
1756
523
The Title
• Ideally: it should encourage the reader to be
interested enough to want to see more
• It should not lead to any of the following
reactions
– “not again!”
– “I don’t believe this”
– “How boring”
– “Huh?”
Title
Should say a lot about your research
When in doubt: choose a declarative statement
Ask colleagues and coauthors (should have a
consensus)
The key features should be in the title
(clinical trial, children with ear infections, new
antibiotic)
Title – Giving the results?
• “Antibiotic X improves survival in neutropenic
sepsis”
• Those who say no:
– Interpreted as bragging?
– Will get lower marks if not the final trial results
(e.g. preliminary findings)
Titles – stating results
• May highlight what’s new about your study,
especially if the population or intervention
have been studied before
• Can interest the reader
• And the reviewer
• Key point is to be objective – don’t overstate
Other considerations
• Pros and cons of stating the results: “B52 genotype
reduces survival in Disease X”
– Will clearly give the reader the content of your
study
– But, may be “too assertive”
• Can seem like bragging
• What if it conflicts with previous work, e.g. the
reviewers?
• More objective (i.e. safer): “Effect of B52 genotype
on Survival in Disease X”
Highlight particular strengths or new
methodology
• Especially if this is one of many studies on the same
topic
– “Association of protein Z with low cholesterol
levels and dementia”
• Specify study population (e.g. rodents or humans)
when submitting to a journal/meeting where either
might be presented
– “Risk of renal failure in trauma patients with
hematuria”
Title Checklist
• Are the title and research question closely
related?
• Is the title objective in tone?
• Are special features of the study mentioned –
especially the study population (elderly,
women, racial/ethnic group)
Examples
• What not to do (from the world of journalism)
At least we know it’s effective!
Giving the talk
• Have your 1st slide up
– Usually, title of talk, authors, affiliation
• Begin thanking the moderators (learn their
names)
• “Thank you Dr. Jones. Dr. Miller, ladies and
gentlemen,…”
• Or, “Dr. Jones, Dr. Miller, ladies and
gentlemen….”
Giving the Talk
• Be sure you use the same words in your talk as
are on your slide
Example
• Slide: All sudden death outside hospital
• Say, “All sudden deaths occurred outside the
hospital.”
• Do not say, “All patients who died suddenly
did so outside the medical center.”
Slide transitions
• Pause slightly
• You have control
• Indicate in your written text when you will transition
– symbol, e.g.
• For graphs, first orient the audience
– “This slide shows the occurrence of cardiac events
over time. The horizontal or X axis displays time in
years and the vertical axis shows the incidence of
cardiac events in percent.”
Abstract presentations
• If you have more data in your presentation
than you showed in the abstract, make a brief
mention, then go on.
– “As you can see, the numbers on this slide are
larger than those reported in the abstract as we
included 50 additional cases.”
Talking about graphic results
• Describe the overall findings after orientating the
audience.
– “We found that heart attacks increased for every
quintile of BMI.”
• Point to only the key features
– “More men than women developed cancer”
– “Women had significantly more embolic events
than men.”
Giving the talk
• Talk about everything on the slide
• If there’s too much, eliminate it from the slide
– You’ll have more room in the manuscript
• For conclusions:
– Use complete sentences
– Read words as in the slides. Some additional transition is
allowed.
– Orient the audience, by “First,…” “Our second
conclusion…” “Finally, …”
At the end
• After your last conclusion recommendation, at
the end of the last slide,
– stop,
– look up,
– say “Thank you.”
• Wait for the moderator to take over.
Questions and answers
• If no microphone, repeat the questions
• Have a pen to jot notes as long-winded questions get
asked
• Be calm
• Be professional
• Do not disagree, if possible
• Be brief
• Be appreciative, thank person if someone makes a
good point.
• OK to say, “We haven’t analyzed that yet.”
Giving the talk
• Practice
• Time yourself
• Give before an audience
• Speak slowly
Precautions
• Bring back-ups
– Flash drive, email to yourself
– Be sure someone else has the slides
• Day of the talk
– Be sure your slides are loaded
– Check in the room of the talk to be sure
everything is ready
Pointer etiquette
• Do not point at every word
• Do not “circle” or “wave” or “squiggle” with
your pointer
• Only point at key aspects of a graph or picture.
If you are clear (in your slides and your talk)
you won’t really need the pointer. Audience
will follow with you.
Posters
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Similar in organization as oral presentations
Use format in the meeting instructions
Title Lettering: minimum 1 inch high
Other type: suitable for reading at 3-4 ft.
Group by Intro, Methods, Results, Conclusions.
Consider Powerpoint template through Med
Illustrations (BMS), VA Med media or a colleague.
Other Talks
• Don’t read from text
– Unless you’re acknowledging the Nobel Prize
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Develop an outline
Tell what you will be covering
Highlight your objectives
Look at the audience
General tips for giving other talks
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Plan how to cover your content
Break up sections
Stop and synthesize
Never go over time
Encourage questions
Humor can be good – in good taste