Preparing Abstracts Is Fun!

Keri T. Holmes-Maybank, MDDivision of Hospital MedicineMedical University of South Carolina

What is an abstract?•Summary of your clinical case, research, or

innovation

•Submit to scientific organization for consideration for presentation at the organization’s conference

• Internal Medicine

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

Writing an abstract – 4 C’s•Concise – no excess wordiness or

information•Clear – readable, well-organized•Cohesive – flows•Complete – covers the major points

•Goal - Very concise statement of the major elements of your case

Abstract Tips•Simple, short sentences•Grammar correct •Eliminate unnecessary words•Avoid medical jargon•Try not use > 3 abbreviations

▫Spell out first▫Use common abbreviations

Abstract Tips•Active voice•Verb tenses consistent and correct•Generic names of Rx

•Get REVIEWED by attending

•Do NOT say - first case ever reported

•Edit, Edit, Edit

•Clear take home message •Design around 1-3 key points/objectives•Simple and concise•Omit details not essential to the main

message•Want your audience to understand why

your case is of interest to them

Content Tips

Scientific Abstract• Introduction

•Methods

•Results

•Discussion

Innovations•Statement of Problem or Question

•Objectives of Program/Intervention

•Description of Program/Intervention

•Findings to Date

•Key Lessons Learned

SHM - Vignette•Case Presentation

•Discussion

•Conclusion

SSGIM - Vignette•Learning Objectives

•Case Presentation

•Discussion

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

Case Presentation•BRIEFLY describe case

▫Pertinent HPI ▫Pertinent ROS pos/neg▫Key PMHx, SocHx, FamHx, Rx ▫Key PE findings – pertinent pos/neg▫Pertinent diagnostic studies▫Pertinent interventions▫Patient outcome

•Only relevant info

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

ACP – Vignette• Introduction

•Case description

•Discussion

ACP - Introduction•Describes context of the case and explains

relevance and importance

•Usually 3-ish sentences

•Can leave intro out and start with case description

Title• Interesting •Short •Descriptive •Summary •Do not give everything away

Title

NEW ONSET SEIZURES: REEMERGENCE OF INACTIVE SARCOIDOSIS

Temeia Martin,MD (Resident); William Moran, MDMedical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC

Affiliation•Medical University of South Carolina,

Charleston, SC

Authors•Presenter should be first author

•Attending should be last author

SSGIM 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

Why not accepted?•Poor presentation•Weak discussion•Lack of originality• Inadequate support

Miscellaneous•Oral v. poster•Each organization has its own specifications

▫Length▫Format▫Read directions!!!

•Do not include author in title section•Make sure you have email addresses

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/clinvin_abs.htm• Clinical vignette submission info. wwwsgim.org/index.cfm?pageId=1138• Estrada C. ACP, SGIM Clinical Vignette Competition: Write an Abstact to Win!

www.uab.edu/.../10-01-...• Ismail MK. How to write an abstract: abstract submission & poster presentation.

www.uthsc.edu/Internal/abstract.ppt• SGIM 29th annual meeting. Vignette Guidelines.• Barrett NF. Developing the successful clinical abstract.

www.barrett-evaluations.com/_pdfs/clinabst.pdf • Southern Society of General Internal Medicine. Southern SGIM call for vignette

submissions. www.sgim.org/index.cfm?pageId=431• Society of General Internal Medicine. 2013 Annual Meeting Important Dates.

http://www.sgim.org/index.cfm?pageId=1311 • http://www.hospitalmedicine.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Education/

AcademicandResearch/Overview/content.htm