Scientific Abstract Writing

Transcription

1 Scientific Abstract Writing Presentation Outline: Definition Abstract section descriptions with examples Specific research abstract guidelines with examples

2 Scientific Abstract Definition: a concise summary that allows the reader to quickly and accurately identify the basic content of the study Consists of one paragraph Usually words, depending on journal s / conference s guidelines Includes 5 sections: Title and Author Introduction / Background Methods Results Conclusions

3 Title and Author Title Should summarize the main study objective and convince the reader that the topic is important, relevant, and innovative Author Information The names and credentials of all authors and their institutional affiliations are listed The order of the authors should be decided beforehand

4 Introduction / Background Depending on publication requirements, this section can be labeled as Introduction or Background Should briefly outline: What is already known about the problem addressed by the research What remains unknown and how this research study fills the gap in the literature Can consist of 1-3 sentences, even a single sentence, outlining the question addressed by the research Usually, final sentence describes the purpose and main objectives (hypotheses) of the study

5 Introduction / Background: Examples Introduction / Background: Birthrates during surgical residency appear to be rising. One assumption is that this is due to changes in the structure of surgical residencies. Introduction / Background: Several skin conditions are known to be associated with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Our clinical observations suggested the hypothesis that seborrheic dermatitis is an under-recognized but common skin manifestation of AIDS that has important, short-term prognostic significance. Outline clinical problem Define abbreviations End with hypothesis or statement of purpose Adapted from Karl Keller presentation, Advocate Research and Innovation Forum 2013

6 Methods Contains enough information to enable the reader to understand what was done, and how Includes the following areas Research design: describes whether the study was randomized, controlled and blinded, and what procedures were followed to ensure randomization, controlling, and blinding of investigators / participants Research setting Sample size & eligibility criteria: number of patients enrolled in the study and how they were selected Description of the intervention (if applicable) Listing of the outcome variables and how they were measured Statistical analysis / methods used to analyze the data

7 Methods: Examples Methods: We conducted an anonymous survey of 84 from 1976 to 2009 at a single university-based surgery training program. Methods: All patients with AIDS seen at the Henry Ford Hospital, an urban hospital, during a one-year period were enrolled in a cohort study. Each patient underwent a comprehensive skin examination. All skin conditions were noted, and the severity of seborrheic dermatitis was graded. A group of sex and aged matched patients seen during the same time period served as a control group. In the second part of the study, AIDS patients with the most severe grades of seborrheic dermatitis were compared to patients with mild or no seborrheic dermatitis for short term mortality. Comparisons were analyzed with chi-square and relative risk calculations. Sample size / population and Research setting Research study design Study procedures Statistical analysis Adapted from Karl Keller presentation, Advocate Research and Innovation Forum 2013

8 Results Most important and should be the longest section of the abstract This section should present: The number of subjects who completed the study; description of the subjects that were included and lost to follow-up Results of the analysis of the primary and the more important secondary objectives, expressed in words along with P values in parentheses Numerical information in the form of means and standard deviations, response and remission rates, effect sizes, relative risks, numbers needed to treat, confidence intervals Findings that fail to support the study hypotheses, if any

9 Results: Example Results Alumni (46 of 116) and current residents (38 of 51) were surveyed, and our response rate was approximately 50% (84 of 167). Respondents were grouped into cohorts based on their residency start year. The early cohort consisted of residents starting residency between 1976 and 1999, and the late cohort consisted of residents starting residency between 2000 and The percentage of male residents with children during residency training was similar for the early and late cohorts (34% [10 of 29] versus 41% [9 of 22]). For female residents, there was a substantial increase in childbearing for the late cohort (7% [1 of 15] versus 35% [6 of 18]). Fifty-two percent (44 of 84) of the respondents who had children during residency reported that work hours and schedule had a negative effect on their decision to have children. Most respondents reported that availability or cost of child care, impact on residency, support from the program, increased length of training, or availability of family leave did not factor as concerns.

10 Results: Example Results: Eighteen patients with AIDS and 12 patients with HIV infection were enrolled (29 males, 1 female). Thirty age and sex matched controls were randomly selected from the patient roster. The most common risk factors for the cases were homosexuality and IV drug abuse. Eighty percent (15/18) of AIDS and 42% (5/12) of HIV-infected patients had seborrheic dermatitis compared 10% (3/10) of controls (P <0.001 AIDS vs. controls, P =0.07 for HIV patients vs. controls, and P = 0.01 for AIDS vs. HIV infected). The severity of seborrheic dermatitis seemed to be associated with short-term prognosis. Of the 6 patients who died during the study, 3 developed severe seborrheic dermatitis within six months and 2 developed moderate seborrheic dermatitis within a year of their deaths (relative risk = 2.5, 95% CI = ). Of the 5 HIV infected patients with seborrheic dermatitis, 2 with moderate grade progressed to AIDS and one subsequently died during the study period. Describe study sample: included patients Describe/explain controls List frequencies of most common outcomes Describe comparisons of outcomes between groups Adapted from Karl Keller presentation, Advocate Research and Innovation Forum 2013

11 Conclusions Contains the most important take-home message of the study Highlights the finding related to the primary outcome message In some instances, expresses an opinion about theoretical or practical implications of the findings, or the importance of the findings for the field Addresses the generalizability of the results to populations other than that studied and also the weaknesses of the study Often associated with recommendations, suggestions and both rejected and accepted hypotheses

12 Conclusions: Examples Conclusions: Childbearing during residency has increased in female residents in our study. Surgical residency programs may need to accommodate this change if they want to continue to recruit and retain talented residents. Conclusion: There is a significant increase in seborrheic dermatitis in patients with AIDS, and the severity of seborrheic dermatitis may have shortterm prognostic significance. Summarize conclusion (and results) Summarize implications Adapted from Karl Keller presentation, Advocate Research and Innovation Forum 2013

13 Complete Abstract: Example

14 Complete Abstract: Example CASE DESCRIPTION: We present two extremely rare cases of multiple myeloma with nodular liver lesions. Both patients were initially thought to have plasmocytomas. During the course of their diagnostic evaluation, including standard skeletal survey, they were diagnosed with multiple myeloma. However, in both cases, liver involvement was found incidentally using advanced imaging. Both patients were treated with various chemotherapy regimens and autologous stem cell transplantation. Plasma cell myeloma can present as a solitary plasmacytoma or with multiple lesions. Within the bone marrow, myeloma cells replicate and disseminate systemically causing extra-nodal disease. Current multiple myeloma staging systems: the International Staging System and the Durie-Salmon Staging System utilize various laboratory tests for staging and prognostication. However, these two systems and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network only recommend skeletal survey imaging. RESULTS: To the best of our knowledge, multiple myeloma with nodular liver lesions is extremely rare and there have only been 27 cases reported worldwide. Our two cases indicate the potential benefit of using imaging studies such as CT, MRI, and PET scanning to aid in multiple myeloma staging prior to initiating chemotherapy which currently is not routinely performed. It is important to determine any potential extranodal disease as it is currently unknown if it correlates with a worse prognosis. One study concluded multiple myeloma with gastrointestinal involvement occurs in only 0.9% of multiple myeloma cases. Gastrointestinal involvement has a rapid post stem cell transplant relapse rate and an overall worse prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: These two cases remind clinicians to include multiple myeloma in the differential diagnosis of liver lesions. They also highlight the potential benefit to using advanced imaging in the initial diagnostic evaluation of multiple myeloma to more precisely stage and prognosticate.

15 Abstract Types Format varies, depending on the type of research which includes: Original Research Quality / Process Improvement Literature review (+ EXAMPLE) Case Report / Case Series Meta-analysis

16 Original Research Preceding guidelines and abstract examples are those of Original Research Describe: Purpose / aims / objectives Study design Pre-test post-test, chart review, single/doubleblinded, cohort, quasi-experimental, survey, etc. Results using numerical values: P values, means, standard deviations, percentages, confidence intervals Conclusions / Recommendations / Implications

17 Quality/Process Improvement Describe: Plan-Do-Study-Act Cycle Step 1: Plan analyze what you intend to improve, looking for areas that hold opportunities for change; the test or observation, including a plan for collecting data Step 2: Do Carry out the change or test, preferably on a small scale and implement the change you decided on Step 3: Study the results (what was learned?) Step 4: Act refine the change, adopt, or abandon it based on what was learned from the test Results follow the general scientific abstract guidelines with the exception that no P values need to be presented Conclusions follow the general scientific abstract guidelines

18 Quality/Process Improvement: Example Introduction: According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), one in every 20 hospitalized patients develops a hospital acquired infection. Of that population, 41,000 patients develop a central line associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) every year. CLABSIs increase patient s morbidity, mortality, length of stay, and healthcare costs. Previous studies have been conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of daily bathing with chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) to reduce CLABSI rates and have shown a statistically significant decrease of 28%. Methods: Evidence based practice was implemented to compare CLABSI rates pre and post-intervention following extensive Medical Surgical Intensive Care Unit (MSICU) nurse education on CHG bathing. The intervention included the development and implementation of a bathing protocol using 2% CHG impregnated wipes. Protocol included bathing with CHG wipes once every 24 hours for daily skin antisepsis. Criteria for measuring CLABSI rates utilized principals from the National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators (NDNQI). Results: The baseline CLABSI rate for MSICU in the second quarter of 2012 was 5.7 cases per 1000 central line days. After the initiation of a daily CHG bathing protocol in June of 2012, results in the 3rd and 4th quarter 2012, and 1st quarter 2013 identified zero cases per 1000 central line days. Average nursing compliance to the protocol was 79.5%. Net cost savings for Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital based on CDC estimates was $95,249 for No adverse patient reactions were identified. Conclusions: Daily CHG bathing provides a safe, cost-effective method to decrease CLABSI rates in the MSICU at Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital.

19 Case Report / Case Series Introduction: describe the purpose, merit of the case report; present all relevant background information Case Description: describe the medical history, physical examination, investigative studies, patient s progress and outcome Conclusions / Discussion: evaluate the patient s diagnosis for accuracy, validity, uniqueness; compare and contrast the case report with published literature; why decisions were made and extract lesson from case; the questions raised for additional research and future practice

20 Case Report / Case Series: Example CASE DESCRIPTION: We present two extremely rare cases of multiple myeloma with nodular liver lesions. Both patients were initially thought to have plasmocytomas. During the course of their diagnostic evaluation, including standard skeletal survey, they were diagnosed with multiple myeloma. However, in both cases, liver involvement was found incidentally using advanced imaging. Both patients were treated with various chemotherapy regimens and autologous stem cell transplantation. Plasma cell myeloma can present as a solitary plasmacytoma or with multiple lesions. Within the bone marrow, myeloma cells replicate and disseminate systemically causing extra-nodal disease. Current multiple myeloma staging systems: the International Staging System and the Durie-Salmon Staging System utilize various laboratory tests for staging and prognostication. However, these two systems and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network only recommend skeletal survey imaging. RESULTS: To the best of our knowledge, multiple myeloma with nodular liver lesions is extremely rare and there have only been 27 cases reported worldwide. Our two cases indicate the potential benefit of using imaging studies such as CT, MRI, and PET scanning to aid in multiple myeloma staging prior to initiating chemotherapy which currently is not routinely performed. It is important to determine any potential extranodal disease as it is currently unknown if it correlates with a worse prognosis. One study concluded multiple myeloma with gastrointestinal involvement occurs in only 0.9% of multiple myeloma cases. Gastrointestinal involvement has a rapid post stem cell transplant relapse rate and an overall worse prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: These two cases remind clinicians to include multiple myeloma in the differential diagnosis of liver lesions. They also highlight the potential benefit to using advanced imaging in the initial diagnostic evaluation of multiple myeloma to more precisely stage and prognosticate.

21 Meta-analysis Background: describe the problem or relation under investigation Methods: describe eligibility criteria used to select studies and the types of subjects included in primary studies Results: describe main results including most important effect sizes, and any important moderators of these effect sizes Conclusions: state study limitations and implications for theory, policy, or practice

22 Meta-analysis: Example Background: A reduction in dietary saturated fat has generally been thought to improve cardiovascular health. Objective: The objective of this meta-analysis was to summarize the evidence related to the association of dietary saturated fat with risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, and cardiovascular disease (CVD; CHD inclusive of stroke) in prospective epidemiologic studies. Design: Twenty-one studies identified by searching MEDLINE and EMBASE databases and secondary referencing qualified for inclusion in this study. A random-effects model was used to derive composite relative risk estimates for CHD, stroke, and CVD. Results: During 5 23 y of follow-up of 347,747 subjects, 11,006 developed CHD or stroke. Intake of saturated fat was not associated with an increased risk of CHD, stroke, or CVD. The pooled relative risk estimates that compared extreme quantiles of saturated fat intake were 1.07 (95% CI: 0.96, 1.19; P = 0.22) for CHD, 0.81 (95% CI: 0.62, 1.05; P = 0.11) for stroke, and 1.00 (95% CI: 0.89, 1.11; P = 0.95) for CVD. Consideration of age, sex, and study quality did not change the results. Conclusions: A meta-analysis of prospective epidemiologic studies showed that there is no significant evidence for concluding that dietary saturated fat is associated with an increased risk of CHD or CVD. More data are needed to elucidate whether CVD risks are likely to be influenced by the specific nutrients used to replace saturated fat.

23 References Purdue Online Writing Lab US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health American College of Physicians, Internal Medicine es_abs.htm Journal of Graduate Medical Education The New England Journal of Medicine The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition Previous internal Advocate research department presentations

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