How to make your Abstract noticeable during submission for paper presentation in a Conference: Points to ponder!!!

Abstract, as a form of publication, cannot be valued lightly. In this fast-moving world, a research paper does not exist beyond the abstract for many readers. Constraints of time have introduced us to the world of infographics and podcasts. Nevertheless, a well-written abstract with distinct and specific findings and judicious use of words can make the readers content. The abstract sets the tone for the rest of the paper and can cause a reader to be inquisitive. Abstracts are often the only part of the research available to the readers when journals don’t provide open access to the electronic database. Hence, it’s at the behest of the author to appropriately present their unique and important results in their abstracts and persuade the readers to peruse the entire contents of the paper.

During the national conference, the Indian Society of Anaesthesiologists (ISA) stood out in the context of a unique platform that included young trainees, seasoned researchers, and private practitioners. So, every year, the annual Indian Society of Anaesthesiologists’ conference (ISACON) has seen an enormous increase in the number of abstracts submitted for award, theme-based and free paper sessions. The abstract is the face of a research paper, and its presentation requires research quality and skills. The abstract categorisation depends on the topic and scientific content of the research work projected through abstract submission. A selection of paper presentations on this platform and publication of these abstracts in the journal provide impetus to the researchers not only in terms of impact and recognition but also to further refine, improvise, and understand the lacunae of the existing literature. These are thoroughly scrutinised, filtered and selected by a blinded process with a standardised assessment system for various award and non-competitive presentation categories.

Indian Journal of Anaesthesia (IJA) has been publishing conference abstracts annually for many years. The quality of the submitted abstracts is often subpar in terms of completeness of the data, necessitating meticulous editing. A good-quality abstract ensures an ideal title. Typically, readers who leaf through the journal pages acknowledge that they rarely go beyond the article’s title.[1] An astute author can spotlight his abstract with a striking title. Researchers either choose to include the comparative elements or the conclusive results of the study in the title. However, it’s customary to include the type of the study at the tail end of the title. Verbose and superfluous titles can be discredited. The content of the abstract is conveyed in a structured format with sub-headings: Background and Aims; Methods; Results and Conclusion. Although some journals publish unstructured abstracts written in free-flowing text, IJA publishes only structured abstracts for original research, systematic reviews and meta-analysis. Background and aims form the shortest part of the abstract, comprising only two or three sentences, but that builds the requirement of scientific research. The methods section describes the participants, group allocation and the study design and ends with the outcome measures and a brief mention of statistical methods. Results are the most essential part of the abstract and must include P values, mean (standard deviation) or median (interquartile range), and 95% confidence intervals. The conclusion should highlight the study’s primary outcome and not elaborate on what has not been done in the study. Avoid using abbreviations in the abstract. Abstracts must be representative of the study yet concise and not exceed the permissible word limit.

Common errors in the abstract include not mentioning the research question, details of the sample population, sample size, and primary and secondary outcomes of the study. Sometimes, the study’s setup and timeline are not mentioned. Other errors include omitting the drug dose details, measurement units, and clinical trial registration number with date. Authors should refrain from repeating results in text, tables, or figures submitted along with the abstract. Citation of references anywhere within an abstract is almost invariably inappropriate and unnecessary. Another important lacuna in the abstracts is the selection of PubMed-indexed keywords. Appropriate choice of keywords can improve the article’s visibility.[2] Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) keywords are preferred as they are used universally. An ideal set of keywords ensures that the study appears among the topmost results on search strategies when applied to different platforms and databases.

The journal envisages that the authors of these abstracts will publish the same research in any biomedical journal in the near future. In such a case, the authors are obliged to declare the presentation of the paper at the conference and mention its citation details as provided in this abstract supplement.[3] Change and progress are constant, and researchers strive for newer ideas to improve patient care.[4] This abstract supplement of IJA provides a unique blend of experienced authors who have presented their current research, and some novice authors, with this being their first publication, are now venturing into the world of academic publication.

The editorial team of IJA, the organizing team of ISACON 2023 and the ISA national governing council have worked hard to make the publication of this abstract supplement a worthwhile academic and research experience for the readers of IJA.

Thank you and Jai Hind!!!