Preparing a Scientific Poster

1. Preparing a Scientific Poster LuAnn Wilkerson, Ed.D. Sr. Assoc. Dean for Medical Education Special Thanks to Alan LeFor, M.D. and Michael Galinda, MD

2. Overview • Planning a Poster Presentation • “The Science” • Preparing the Poster • “The Mechanics” • Critique some Posters • Putting it all together

3. The Science: Planning your Poster

4. State a research question • Determine your purpose • State the question that guided your research • Check the literature • Share it with several people • Are any of the terms vague? • Does it seem important? Interesting? • Refine

5. Know your audience • Professional specialty • Placement in the meeting • Probable attendees for this session • Level of expertise with this topic • Interests • Setting

6. Determine your main points • Distill to a single story supported by 3-4 facts. • Be selective. • Leave room for • Introduction • Examples and explanations • Visual displays • Summary

7. Plan for a visual impact • Readable from 5-6 feet away • Does/Does Not Test • Clear organization • Stress of main points • Visual illustration • Charts, graphs, pictures • Color for emphasis

8. Special features • Abstract is NOT generally included • Reference list is not required or limited • Case Report • Learning objective • Case description -- brief and riveting • Discussion • Implication -- single sentence linked to objective • Literature Review • Begin with the “problem” or case • Group by findings • Use first author name et al, date. Hand out list.

9. Common Problems • Inappropriate level for the audience • Disorganized format • Too much detail included • Poor visuals • No interaction with the viewers

10. The Mechanics • Title • Introduction • Methods • Results • Conclusions

11. Title • Select a title that communicates • Brief • Attention grabbing • Author and mentor • Institution

12. Introduction • Why is this question important? • Current perspective in the literature • Readability • Bullet points • A few sentences

13. Methods • Amount of detail is determined by how common the methodology is used • Photograph of any special equipment • Readability • Divide into sample, instrumentation, analysis • Bullet points are fine

14. Results • Highest readability • Clear statement of key findings • Bullet points or single sentences • Consider use of color • Graphs / Charts • Data Tables • Limit to essential cells • If you include a large table, consider a “blow up” of the essential cells

15. Conclusions • Implications • Patient care • Changed scientific understandings • Future research • Readability • Succinct • Bulletted

16. My Special Patient Stella Resident, MD, with Michael Galinda, MD Internal Medicine Residency Program, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA Learning Objectives Discussion • Preparing • Break your discussion into several headings. E.g. Pathophysiology, Epidemiology, Clinical Findings, Diagnostic Workup, Treatment Options. • Use tables and charts to highlight key points. • Not all of your scholarship needs to be in the poster, but you should be ready to quote the important literature as needed when they ask you questions • Do not include an abstract or references in the poster!! • Use action verbs describing your learning goals for the reader, usually recognize, diagnose, manage, etc. • Planningof the poster • Lessons that the case has to teach, and how a case like this should change the way doctors think drives the structure of the entire poster. • If a common presentation of an uncommon disease, explain how it’s like other cases. • If an uncommon presentation of a common disease, explain how it is special. • Discuss what factors might have led to this unusual presentation. • Avoid bold controversial recommendations. Figure 1. Chest X-ray Case Description • An exquisitely brief and riveting synopsis of the case. • Adhere to the standard sequence of HPI -> PMH -> Fam/SocHx -> PE -> Labs -> Studies. However, not all of the above are necessarily relevant, and may not all be included. • Consider breaking the case into sections (e.g. HPI, PMH, PE). Use visual dividers to separate sections. • ROS should be included in the HPI only when it contributes to making the presentation interesting. • Give a brief description of the treatment course and finish with the patient’s last known outcome. Figure 2. EKG Implications • Wrap up the points on how your case should impact clinical practice • Are there broader policy considerations that make your case even more compelling?

17. Mechanical Factors • Know the dimensions you are allowed • Bring your own tacks! • Use an appropriate font size. ALWAYS use a sans serif font (e.g. Arial vs Times). Don’t MIX fonts • Format choices • Individual slides in landscape orientation mounted on poster board with banner title • Single banner poster

18. Cost • Poster board, spray mount: About $15 • One piece professionally printed: $36-51 (see Class of 2012 STTP website) • A well-done poster session: Priceless!!!!!

19. Putting It All TogetherPosters from a surgical meetingPhotographs by Alan Lefor, MD

50. Get ready…Go!Interact with your audience • Ask if you can tell them more. • Describe the purpose in one sentence • Describe the methodology concisely. • Stress the unique contributions • Be on the watch for new ideas!