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

WHAT SHOULD A POSTER CONTAIN ?

QUESTIONS ?