Poster Prep 101Poster Prep 101

ACP Associates Council of ACP Associates Council of ArizonaArizona

2007-082007-08

Why should I submit a Why should I submit a poster?poster? I can win a cash prize.I can win a cash prize. I can win a trip to the ACP National I can win a trip to the ACP National

meeting to present my poster.meeting to present my poster. I can list it on my CV.I can list it on my CV. I may be able to publish my case I may be able to publish my case

or research project.or research project. It makes my program look good!It makes my program look good!

ACP state meeting ACP state meeting 20072007 Abstract deadline is October 26Abstract deadline is October 26

– Still have plenty of time!Still have plenty of time! Meeting is December 8-9, 2007Meeting is December 8-9, 2007

– Doubletree Hotel Tucson at Reid Doubletree Hotel Tucson at Reid ParkPark

Types of PostersTypes of Posters

Case reportsCase reports Research projectResearch project

Case ReportCase Report

Easiest to prepareEasiest to prepare Potential cases are seen every dayPotential cases are seen every day

– Always keep a listAlways keep a list What makes a good case?What makes a good case?

– Rare diseaseRare disease– Unusual presentation of a common diseaseUnusual presentation of a common disease– Clinical presentation with a wide Clinical presentation with a wide

differential leading to an unusual diagnosisdifferential leading to an unusual diagnosis– ““Classic” images that made a diagnosisClassic” images that made a diagnosis

Research PosterResearch Poster

Requires a previously established Requires a previously established research projectresearch project

Must have results and be able to draw Must have results and be able to draw conclusions from your dataconclusions from your data

Why is your project unique or Why is your project unique or important?important?

MentoringMentoring

Who can serve as my mentor?Who can serve as my mentor?– Senior residentSenior resident– Attending physician at time of admission Attending physician at time of admission

or consultationor consultation– Specialty consultantSpecialty consultant– Research mentorResearch mentor

Mentoring physician can be any Mentoring physician can be any attending physicianattending physician

Only the 1Only the 1stst author needs to be an ACP author needs to be an ACP membermember

Step by step Step by step constructionconstruction Case reportsCase reports

– TitleTitle– AbstractAbstract– DiscussionDiscussion– ImagesImages– CaptionsCaptions– TablesTables– ReferencesReferences– Teaching pointsTeaching points

ResearchResearch– TitleTitle– AbstractAbstract– HypothesesHypotheses– Background and Background and

significancesignificance– Study design and Study design and

methodsmethods– ResultsResults– DiscussionDiscussion– Tables and chartsTables and charts– ReferencesReferences

What makes a good What makes a good title?title? Case ReportsCase Reports

– Need a unique hookNeed a unique hook– Want judges to remember your posterWant judges to remember your poster– Should include the poster topicShould include the poster topic

ResearchResearch– Summarize your research question and Summarize your research question and

conclusionsconclusions

AbstractAbstract

The first step in poster preparationThe first step in poster preparation

Submit for reviewSubmit for review

If accepted, include on your poster If accepted, include on your poster exactly as submittedexactly as submitted

Abstract – case reportAbstract – case report

State the clinical problem State the clinical problem – IntroductionIntroduction– Brief description of the diagnosis or topicBrief description of the diagnosis or topic– Few sentences about your caseFew sentences about your case

Pertinent clinical background informationPertinent clinical background information Why is your case unique?Why is your case unique?

State your solutionState your solution– Clinical clues and studies that led to Clinical clues and studies that led to

diagnosisdiagnosis– How you actually made the diagnosisHow you actually made the diagnosis– Be BRIEF – stick to the relevant information!Be BRIEF – stick to the relevant information!

Abstract – case reportAbstract – case report

State your conclusionState your conclusion– Case discussionCase discussion– Diagnostic and therapeutic implicationsDiagnostic and therapeutic implications– One sentence on outcomeOne sentence on outcome– Carefully worded sentence to wrap upCarefully worded sentence to wrap up

Relate to your initial assertionRelate to your initial assertion

Send to mentor for reviewSend to mentor for review

Abstract - researchAbstract - research

Standard formatStandard format– BackgroundBackground– MethodsMethods– ResultsResults– ConclusionsConclusions

Abstract - researchAbstract - research

State the question, controversy, or State the question, controversy, or new or unusual observationnew or unusual observation

Describe a clinical strategy, an Describe a clinical strategy, an intervention, or a study designintervention, or a study design– Include methods, if applicableInclude methods, if applicable

State your conclusionState your conclusion– Strengths, weaknesses, suggestions for Strengths, weaknesses, suggestions for

further investigationsfurther investigations

Send to your mentor for reviewSend to your mentor for review

Creating the posterCreating the poster

Now that your abstract has been Now that your abstract has been accepted…what’s next?accepted…what’s next?– Write the discussionWrite the discussion– Select your imagesSelect your images– Ask your program’s chief resident about Ask your program’s chief resident about

resources available for poster design and resources available for poster design and printingprinting

– If you have access to media support If you have access to media support services, turn in your files as early as services, turn in your files as early as possiblepossible

DiscussionDiscussion

Elaborate on the topicElaborate on the topic– Brief review of pertinent literatureBrief review of pertinent literature– Diagnostic methodsDiagnostic methods– TreatmentTreatment– Usual outcomeUsual outcome

ImagesImages

Unique or classic imagesUnique or classic images– RadiologyRadiology– Pathology slidesPathology slides– Gross specimensGross specimens– PhotographsPhotographs

Charts or graphsCharts or graphs

Creating the posterCreating the poster

Submit as MS Word files:Submit as MS Word files:– TitleTitle– Authors’ names and degreesAuthors’ names and degrees

Check spellingCheck spelling Include ACP status after each name (associate, Include ACP status after each name (associate,

member, fellow)member, fellow)

– AbstractAbstract– DiscussionDiscussion– CaptionsCaptions– ReferencesReferences

Creating the posterCreating the poster

ImagesImages– Submit as JPEG filesSubmit as JPEG files

Provide clear instructions as to which Provide clear instructions as to which caption goes with which imagecaption goes with which image

Style pointsStyle points

Remember what you learned in English Remember what you learned in English classclass

Use simple, declarative sentencesUse simple, declarative sentences AvoidAvoid

– Technical jargonTechnical jargon– Long, complicated descriptionsLong, complicated descriptions– Use of passive voiceUse of passive voice

Ask for someone NOT in medical field Ask for someone NOT in medical field to review for clarity of thoughtto review for clarity of thought

ProofreadingProofreading

Review poster proof carefullyReview poster proof carefully Resubmit corrected file if you notice an Resubmit corrected file if you notice an

errorerror Make sure poster complies with Make sure poster complies with

regulations of competitionregulations of competition Give the okay to print!Give the okay to print!

Get ready for the big Get ready for the big dayday Anticipate questions about your caseAnticipate questions about your case

– Review the involved patient’s medical Review the involved patient’s medical record the week beforerecord the week before

– Review the pertinent literatureReview the pertinent literature

Pick up your posterPick up your poster Know when and where to hang itKnow when and where to hang it Know your assigned judging timeKnow your assigned judging time

Poster judging – casesPoster judging – cases

Written abstractWritten abstract– Clarity of thoughtClarity of thought– OrganizationOrganization

Poster displayPoster display– OrganizationOrganization– IntroductionIntroduction– Case presentationCase presentation– Graphics and figuresGraphics and figures– DiscussionDiscussion– SignificanceSignificance

First author First author discussion with discussion with judgesjudges– KnowledgeKnowledge– DiscussionDiscussion

Each area worth 5 Each area worth 5 pointspoints

Total 50 pointsTotal 50 points

Poster judging – Poster judging – researchresearch Written abstractWritten abstract

– Clarity of thoughtClarity of thought– OrganizationOrganization

Poster displayPoster display– OrganizationOrganization– BackgroundBackground– MethodsMethods– Graphics and figuresGraphics and figures– ResultsResults– ConclusionsConclusions

First author First author discussion with discussion with judgesjudges– KnowledgeKnowledge– DiscussionDiscussion

Each area worth 5 Each area worth 5 pointspoints

Total 50 pointsTotal 50 points