What should a poster contain? 18.03.14
Transcript of What should a poster contain? 18.03.14
WHAT SHOULD A POSTER CONTAIN ?
EPINOR
Tromsø March 17th 2014
Professor Inger Torhild Gram , M.D., PhD.
Department of Community Medicine
Faculty of Health Sciences
OUTLINE
In general (there can always be exceptions….)• Content of a Poster • Recommendations and what to avoid• A few examples
• Examples of posters• Questions and answers
PREPARING A POSTER
Recommended • Plan ahead - Time schedule • Follow guidelines - Size of poster• Vertical flow• Think about – Audience, Colors, Fonts
Avoid • Too much text, • Too small font size,• Not utilizing the available space
THE OUTLINE OF A POSTER
TEXT• Title - Headings • Objective • Material/Methods• Results • Discussion • Conclusion
RESULTS• Tables • Figures• Pictures • Drawings
IF SPACE• References • Abstract
TAKE HOME MESSAGE FROM YOUR POSTER
• What is your take home message ?
• What is the story you want to tell ?
• Have this in the back of your head when you work on the poster
THE TITLE OF A POSTERRecommended • Catchy - Sell your study • 10 - 15 words • Label the content of your study • One subject• Describe your study
Avoid • Too short /long
TITLE – 2 EXAMPLES
“Smoking before first childbirth may explain some of the increase in breast cancer diagnosed before 50 years of age. The Norwegian Women and Cancer study 1991-2010 ”
“Smoking before first childbirth and the association with breast cancer risk is independent from alcohol use and does not seem to differ across ethnic groups: The Multiethnic Cohort Study”
THE INTRODUCTION
Make it interesting • Background – short and to the point • Summarize problem to be addressed• State hypothesis • Purpose of study including material and
methods
Avoid • Telling everything you know about the issue
INTRODUCTION – EXAMPLE 1
“The main purpose was to
utilize the Norwegian Women and Cancer study,
a nationally representative prospective cohort,
to estimate the effect of cigarette smoking before
first birth on breast cancer risk and estimate the
corresponding population attributable fraction ”
INTRODUCTION – EXAMPLE 2
“The main purpose was to
prospectively examine whether active smoking
increases the risk of breast cancer overall
and among non-drinkers of alcohol,
according to onset of smoking in relation to first
childbirth, and according to race/ethnicity in the
MEC, a mature cohort that enrolled older women
of five ethnic groups who are predominately
non-drinkers of alcohol”
THE MATERIAL/METHODS Bullet points in chronological order• Study population • How you conducted the study • Approval for the study by relevant ethics committee(s)• Informed consent • Methods used • Variables used • Statistical methods
Avoid• Write about results
THE RESULTS
Recommended • Present main results • Same chronological order as in methods • Tell a story • Only key findings in text
Avoid
Interpreting the meaning of the results
THE TABLES AND FIGURES
Recommended
Tables and Figures understandable on their own • Tables: Numerous / Complicated data • Figures: Reveal trends/ patterns
Tell a story
Avoid• Too many decimals
THE DISCUSSION
Recommended • Summarize your major findings • Strengths / Limitations • (Biologic plausibility-if space)• Short section • You want to discuss with your audience
Avoid• Too comprehensive section• Audience will read instead of discuss with you
THE CONCLUSION
Recommended • Summarize the findings • Generalize their importance• Be short and to the point• State if the results support the hypothesis or not
Avoid • Statements not supported by the results • Findings not related to purpose of the study
FINALIZING A POSTER
Recommended • Check guidelines again • Keep to your outline• Think about – Grammar, spelling • Revise for clarity and brevity • Use short sentences (15-20 words)
ABSTRACT
Recommended • Must cover all the important points• State hypothesis and method used in first
sentence • Condense and highlight the major results
Avoid – To have methods, results and conclusions
that differ from the poster text
TAKE HOME MESSAGE
Recommended • Preferable with a manuscript ready for
submission as a basis for your poster • Let your poster tell a story • Use visuals/ Text/ Bullet points • Make it simple – Edit – Edit – Edit• Practice your presentation
Avoid • Long paragraphs of compact text