Abstract: - Very concise statement of the major elements of your case.
Summary of your clinical case, research, or innovation.
Getting started:
Ask your attending – is this worth presenting?
Collect h&p, progress notes, relevant labs and images
Do a literature review
Write what interested you in the case
Each organization has its own specifications: Length, format, read directions!!!
Successful abstract:
Follows the guidelines, Well-written, Meets goals or conference, Basis of future work
Abstract writing: 4 C’s
Concise – no excess wordiness or information
Clear – readable, well-organized
Cohesive – flows
Complete – covers the major points
Abstract tips: Edit, edit, edit - Get reviewed by attending
Active voice, Verb tenses consistent and correct
Simple, short sentences
Grammar correct
Eliminate unnecessary words
Avoid medical jargon
Generic names of Rx
Try not to use >3 abbreviations – spell out first, common abbreviations
Do NOT ever say “first case ever reported”
Content tips:
Clear take home message
Design around 1-3 key points/objectives
Simple and concise
Don’t be emotionally attached to the details - Omit details not essential to main message
Want your audience to understand why your case is of interest to them
Scientific abstract:
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Introduction
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Methods
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Results
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Discussion
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Statement of problem or question
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Objectives of program/intervention
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Description of program/intervention
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Findings to date
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Key lessons learned
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Learning objectives
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Case presentation
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Discussion
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Introduction – (can omit and skip to case description)
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Case description
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Discussion
Innovations:
SGIM Vignette:
ACP Vignette:
SHM Vignette:
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Case presentation
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Discussion
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Conclusion
Title: Interesting , Short, Descriptive, Summary – if possible do not give everything away
Authors:
Presenter should be first author
Attending should be last author
Affiliation: Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
Learning objectives:
Only 1-3 objectives
Clear, concise
Clear link to conclusions
Action oriented: recognize, diagnose, assess, treat, distinguish, manage, identify
Do NOT use “know or understand”
Case Presentation:
Only PERTINENT info - Do NOT be emotionally attached to details
Omit any information not relevant to main message
Briefly describe case
Pertinent HPI, ROS pos/neg
Key PMHx, SocHx, FamHx, Rx, PE findings – pertinent pos/neg
Pertinent diagnostic studies, interventions
Patient outcome
Discussion:
Concise
Emphasize key points
How is it different/unique, Implications: teaching, practice, research?
******Make sure is clearly linked to objectives*****
SSGIM Abstract Selection Criteria:
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objectives
Clarity of presentation: concise, complete, organized, well-written, focused
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Significance/relevance to general internal medicine: unique, interesting.
Contextualizes and describes impact on clinical practice in internal medicine, teaching/education
or future research
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Teaching value: offers important diagnosis, physical examination, or
management pearls
Why not accepted?
Poor presentation, weak discussion, lack of originality, inadequate support
Conclusions are not tied into learning objectives
Objectives not clearly stated
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.
MUST USE THE MUSC POSTER TEMPLATE.
Poster construction:
Abstract is basis
Judicious use of more detail
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
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 – photos, imaging, figures
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
Poster outline:
Title
Authors, institution, location
Follows abstract outline plus conclusions
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
ACP introduction:
Describe the clinical context and relevance
1-3 sentences/phrases
Bullet points
Case presentation:
BULLET POINTS
Clear, concise
Only pertinent info
Do NOT be emotionally attached to details
Omit any information not relevant to main message
Case Presentation:
Relevant HPI
Relevant PMHx, SocHx, FamHx
Ros pertinent positive/negative
PE pertinent positive/negative
Pertinent Laboratory, biopsy, and imaging
Hospital course
Treatment
Discussion:
Importance of this case to audience
Support your conclusions
Lessons learned
Can set up with subheadings for your main message: diagnostic criteria, diagnostic modalities, unusual
presentation, description of biopsy results, treatments, guidelines, possible mechanisms
Conclusion:
TAKE HOME MESSAGE - May be all your audience sees
Emphasize key points
References:
Really small font - If necessary can print on separate sheet and attach to bottom right corner
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
Images:
***Real draw to attendees in vignettes***
***Center, top (under title) of poster****
Large, clear
Use arrows
Review with radiologist
Getting your poster made:
Lisa Fennessy, art services, harper student center, SS440, 4th floor
Send the proof to Lisa Fennessy. Lisa will send proof same day, edit proof (maybe several times), final
proof, send the final one week before need poster
Have your attending review your poster, provide constructive feedback, rehearse your overview, practice
for judges questions
Etiquette:
Prepare a 1-2 minute summary of your poster
Dress professionally
Stand by poster – expected by meeting coordinators
Be prepared to answer questions from the judges – practice with your attending
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
ACP 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
SSGIM judging criteria:
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Poster Presentation – outstanding organization, excellent poster format, effective
illustrations, appropriate amount of words
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Learning objectives – clearly stated learning objectives, tied to conclusions,
supported by data
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Content – clear, concise case description, all RELEVANT patient information,
info well organized
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Teaching/educational value – valuable to internists, increases understanding of
disease, improves diagnosis or treatment of disease state
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Overall
SSGIM most common pitfalls:
Objectives not clearly stated (content)
Inappropriate amount of words (format)
Conclusions are not tied into learning objectives (conclusions)******