Scientific Presentations talk

Scientific Presentations:Scientific Presentations:Abstracts, oral sessions, and posters Abstracts, oral sessions, and posters

Stephen Hulley, MD MPHStephen Hulley, MD MPHProfessorProfessorDivision of Clinical EpidemiologyDivision of Clinical EpidemiologyDepartment of Epidemiology & BiostatisticsDepartment of Epidemiology & BiostatisticsUCSF School of MedicineUCSF School of Medicine

Mintu Turakhia, MDMintu Turakhia, MDClinical Instructor & FellowClinical Instructor & FellowElectrophysiology SectionElectrophysiology SectionDivision of CardiologyDivision of CardiologyUCSF School of MedicineUCSF School of Medicine

Scientific Presentations talk

• Simple color schemeSimple color scheme– White on blue or White on blue or black on whiteblack on white– Avoid Verdana or Tahoma - spacing is Avoid Verdana or Tahoma - spacing is

not consistent between computersnot consistent between computers

• Consistent design and layoutConsistent design and layout– Fonts, alignment, size, tablesFonts, alignment, size, tables– Compare slide to previous and next slide Compare slide to previous and next slide

to ensure consistencyto ensure consistency

• Animations are generally distractingAnimations are generally distracting– Avoid unless they add clarityAvoid unless they add clarity

Elements of slide designElements of slide design

Scientific Presentations talk

• Make slides telegraphicMake slides telegraphic– Few wordsFew words– Define common acronyms as they are Define common acronyms as they are

usedused– No novel acronymsNo novel acronyms– Upper/lower case.Upper/lower case.

• < 10 lines per slide < 10 lines per slide • < 1 slide/minute< 1 slide/minute

– Fewer is betterFewer is better• Rehearse > 1 times to > 1 personRehearse > 1 times to > 1 person

– Rehearse Q & A as wellRehearse Q & A as well

Preparing the talkPreparing the talk

Scientific Presentations talk

Title slideTitle slide

• Concise informative titleConcise informative title– Placing title as footer on all slides helps Placing title as footer on all slides helps

audience know which talk is being audience know which talk is being presentedpresented

• Authors and co-authorsAuthors and co-authors– Presenter’s title and institutionPresenter’s title and institution

• AHA mandates disclosure slideAHA mandates disclosure slide

Scientific Presentations talk

Presenter disclosure informationPresenter disclosure information

Presenter_Name Here:Presenter_Name Here:• Financial disclosure: NoneFinancial disclosure: None• Unlabelled/unapproved use disclosure: Unlabelled/unapproved use disclosure: TXZO1421TXZO1421

is not approved for human use. The data shown is is not approved for human use. The data shown is from Phase I and II studies.from Phase I and II studies.

Co-author Here:Co-author Here:• Financial disclosure: Grant from Company X; Financial disclosure: Grant from Company X;

Speakers’ bureau from Company Y.Speakers’ bureau from Company Y.

All other authors:All other authors:• No disclosuresNo disclosures

Scientific Presentations talk

BackgroundBackground

• Concise rationale: 1 slideConcise rationale: 1 slide– Research questionResearch question

Why importantWhy important

– Prior work, why inadequatePrior work, why inadequate– How this study solves thatHow this study solves that

• Avoid citations, sentences, detailsAvoid citations, sentences, details• Explicitly state research questionExplicitly state research question

Scientific Presentations talk

Methods: differs from manuscript writingMethods: differs from manuscript writing

• Avoid rehashing manuscriptAvoid rehashing manuscript• Limit to 1-3 slides (boring) Limit to 1-3 slides (boring)

– More time on methods = less time on More time on methods = less time on resultsresults

• Use informative titles Use informative titles – Don’t: “Methods 1”, “Methods 2”, …Don’t: “Methods 1”, “Methods 2”, …– Do: “Design and subjects”, “Predictors Do: “Design and subjects”, “Predictors

and outcomes”and outcomes”• Don’t include statistical methods hereDon’t include statistical methods here

– They can be mentioned on results slidesThey can be mentioned on results slides• Omit lesser detailsOmit lesser details

Scientific Presentations talk

Results: also differs from manuscriptResults: also differs from manuscript

• Informative titles, labelsInformative titles, labels– (don’t use “Results” as the title)(don’t use “Results” as the title)

• Build a storyBuild a story– Be selective, not comprehensiveBe selective, not comprehensive

• Graphs Graphs – Graphic (memorable)Graphic (memorable)– PatternsPatterns

• TablesTables– Be parsimonious; omit detailsBe parsimonious; omit details– Round values to 2-3 digits (3.1, not 3.14159)Round values to 2-3 digits (3.1, not 3.14159)– Can it be seen from the back of the room?Can it be seen from the back of the room?

Scientific Presentations talk

DiscussionDiscussion

• Discussion slide is optionalDiscussion slide is optional– Often not neededOften not needed– Can provide comments while telling the Can provide comments while telling the

story of the results slidesstory of the results slides

• Study limitations should be mentionedStudy limitations should be mentioned– Option of a “limitations” slideOption of a “limitations” slide

Scientific Presentations talk

SummarySummary

• Concise statement of 2-4 findingsConcise statement of 2-4 findings• Each bullet sentence can be readEach bullet sentence can be read

– Then embellishedThen embellished

• Linger to let it sink inLinger to let it sink in

Scientific Presentations talk

ConclusionsConclusions

• Concise statement of, for example:Concise statement of, for example:– Interpretation of findingsInterpretation of findings– Implications for practiceImplications for practice– Implications for future research (specific)Implications for future research (specific)

• Sometimes combined with summarySometimes combined with summary• This is your take-home messageThis is your take-home message

– Again, linger on thisAgain, linger on this

• At the very end, thank your audienceAt the very end, thank your audience

Scientific Presentations talk

Giving the talkGiving the talk

• Engage the audience at the outset and Engage the audience at the outset and throughoutthroughout– Entertain, reveal personalityEntertain, reveal personality– Be enthusiastic; speak with confidenceBe enthusiastic; speak with confidence

• Preferable not to read the textPreferable not to read the text– It’s okay if you do read, but…It’s okay if you do read, but…

Follow text with finger so you can look up oftenFollow text with finger so you can look up often

– Option of reading just the backgroundOption of reading just the background

• Start each slide with orienting audience, Start each slide with orienting audience, then give commentarythen give commentary– Title, graph axes, legends, etcTitle, graph axes, legends, etc– The key text or numbers on the slideThe key text or numbers on the slide

Scientific Presentations talk

The laser pointerThe laser pointer

• Helpful to orient audience while you speakHelpful to orient audience while you speak• Overuse or fast movements are distracting Overuse or fast movements are distracting

and directs speaker away from audience and directs speaker away from audience (and microphone)(and microphone)

• Use slowly, cautiously, and judiciouslyUse slowly, cautiously, and judiciously– Use in brief bursts (few seconds at a time)Use in brief bursts (few seconds at a time)

• Muscle tremor is exaggerated with distanceMuscle tremor is exaggerated with distance– Flex elbow and use opposite hand to support Flex elbow and use opposite hand to support

forearm against your sideforearm against your side

• At AHA, the computer mouse is the pointerAt AHA, the computer mouse is the pointer– Practice with mouse if you have not used this Practice with mouse if you have not used this

technique beforetechnique before

Scientific Presentations talk

How to make a posterHow to make a poster

• Posters are similar, except…Posters are similar, except…• Use font size and position on the poster to Use font size and position on the poster to

create aesthetic whole and highlight key create aesthetic whole and highlight key elementselements– Research question (top left)Research question (top left)– Summary/conclusions (bottom right)Summary/conclusions (bottom right)

• Separate sections for methods, results and Separate sections for methods, results and discussion (like a manuscript)discussion (like a manuscript)

• The less you write, the more likely it will be The less you write, the more likely it will be readread

• Don’t cut and paste your manuscriptDon’t cut and paste your manuscript

Scientific Presentations talk

How not to make a posterHow not to make a poster

• Clean design but…Clean design but…• Too much textToo much text• Tables are too detailedTables are too detailed• No one has time or incentive to read thisNo one has time or incentive to read this

Scientific Presentations talk

The whole point of it allThe whole point of it all

• Presenting is a way to network and Presenting is a way to network and exchange ideasexchange ideas

• Q & A is the best partQ & A is the best part– Engage with audience through proxiesEngage with audience through proxies– Don’t shortchangeDon’t shortchange

Leave enough time for the audience to get Leave enough time for the audience to get fully involvedfully involved

– Meet people you don’t knowMeet people you don’t know– Build a reputationBuild a reputation