Research Toolkit

Case Report Poster Format

1. Title

   • Concise and descriptive, indicating the condition or scenario.
   • Include the authors’ names and institutional affiliations.

2. Introduction/Background

   • Case Significance: Briefly explain the importance of the case (e.g., rarity, diagnostic challenge, or educational value).
   • Objective: State what the case demonstrates or the learning objectives.

3. Case Description

   • Patient Presentation: Describe relevant patient demographics, chief complaint, and history.
   • Examination Findings: Include key physical exam findings or lab/imaging results that guided diagnosis.
   • Timeline: Optionally, provide a timeline of the patient's clinical course if applicable.

4. Diagnosis

   • Diagnostic Process: Describe the process leading to the diagnosis, including differential diagnosis considerations and confirmatory tests.
   • Final Diagnosis: State the final diagnosis clearly, and explain why other potential diagnoses were ruled out.

5. Management and Outcomes

   • Intervention/Treatment: Summarize the treatment or management strategy used.
   • Outcome: Describe the patient's response to treatment, including any follow-up data if available.

6. Discussion

   • Case Significance: Discuss the clinical relevance of the case, including any diagnostic or treatment challenges.
   • Literature Comparison: Briefly compare the case with similar cases in the literature, if applicable.
   • Lessons Learned: Highlight any take-home messages or lessons for clinical practice.

7. Conclusion

   • Sum up the case’s key learning points or unique insights.

8. References

   • Cite relevant literature, particularly if referring to other case reports or guidelines.
   • Use a QR code and link to a document containing the references to save space

9. Acknowledgments

   • Recognize any contributors or funding sources (if applicable).

10. Contact Information

    • Provide an email or contact method for further inquiries.

Quality Improvement (QI) Poster Format

1. Title

   • Clear and descriptive, reflecting the improvement project’s goal or focus.
   • Include the names of the authors and institutional affiliations.

2. Introduction/Background

   • Problem Statement: Briefly explain the problem or process that required improvement.
   • Objective: Clearly state the improvement goal or target outcome.
   • Context: Provide relevant background information or data that justified the need for the QI project.

3. Methods

   • Intervention/Plan: Describe the intervention or strategy used to address the problem.
   • Framework: Mention any specific QI methodology used (e.g., PDSA cycles, Lean, Six Sigma).
   • Baseline Data: Present any baseline measurements or data that were used to assess the starting point.
   • Timeline: Provide a brief timeline of the QI project steps if applicable.

4. Results

   • Outcome Measures: Summarize key metrics or data points that show the impact of the intervention (e.g., pre- and post-intervention data).
   • Visuals: Use charts, tables, or graphs to show trends or improvements.
   • Process Measures: Include any data reflecting changes in processes (e.g., adherence to a protocol or time savings).

5. Discussion

   • Interpretation: Discuss the project’s outcomes, including any successes or unexpected findings.
   • Limitations: Note any challenges encountered during the QI project or limitations in data collection.
   • Sustainability: Address how the improvements will be maintained over time.

6. Conclusion

   • Summarize the impact of the QI project and its significance for the organization or patient outcomes.

7. Next Steps

   • Briefly outline any plans for further improvements or future QI projects related to this work.
8. References
   • Use a QR code and link to a document containing the references to save space

9. Acknowledgments

   • Recognize any team members, departments, or funding sources involved in the project.

10. Contact Information

    • Provide an email or contact method for follow-up questions.

Program Evaluation Poster Format

1. Title

   • Descriptive, clearly indicating the program evaluated and its focus or aim.
   • Include authors' names and institutional affiliations.

2. Introduction/Background

   • Program Description: Briefly describe the program or service being evaluated, including its goals and intended audience.
   • Objective: Clearly state the purpose of the evaluation, such as assessing effectiveness, identifying challenges, or understanding outcomes.

3. Methods

   • Evaluation Design: Describe the evaluation approach, whether qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods.
   • Data Collection: Summarize data sources and collection methods, such as surveys, interviews, or observation.
   • Analysis: Briefly describe how data were analyzed (e.g., thematic analysis for qualitative data or statistical analysis for quantitative data).

4. Results

   • Outcome Data: Present findings related to the program’s goals and objectives.
   • Visuals: Use graphs, tables, or charts to show key metrics, trends, or participant feedback.
   • Impact Statements: Summarize any measurable impact, such as participant satisfaction rates, skill improvement, or changes in behavior.

5. Discussion

   • Interpretation of Results: Explain what the data reveals about the program’s success or areas needing improvement.
   • Limitations: Address any factors that may have influenced the results or limited the evaluation’s scope.

6. Lessons Learned

   • Highlight key takeaways from the evaluation that could inform future program improvements or similar initiatives.

7. Conclusion

   • Summarize the overall effectiveness of the program, its impact, and any recommendations for program refinement or continuation.

8. Future Directions

   • Outline next steps for the program based on evaluation findings, such as changes to enhance outcomes or further evaluations.
9. References
   • Use a QR code and link to a document containing the references to save space

10. Acknowledgments

    • Mention contributors or funding sources that supported the program and evaluation.

11. Contact Information

    • Provide contact details for those interested in learning more or implementing similar programs.

Educational Poster Format

1. Title

   • Clear and descriptive, reflecting the educational program or intervention's focus.
   • Include the authors' names and institutional affiliations.

2. Introduction/Background

   • Context: Briefly introduce the educational need or gap addressed by the program.
   • Objective: Clearly state the program’s educational objectives or learning outcomes.

3. Methods

   • Program Design: Describe the structure of the educational program or curriculum, including duration, setting, and instructional methods (e.g., lectures, workshops, simulations).
   • Participants: Briefly outline the target audience (e.g., medical students, residents).
   • Assessment Tools: Mention any assessment methods used to measure learning outcomes (e.g., pre- and post-tests, feedback surveys).

4. Implementation

   • Delivery: Summarize how the program was delivered, including any innovative teaching techniques or resources.
   • Challenges: Note any logistical or instructional challenges encountered during implementation.

5. Results

   • Outcome Data: Present data on participants’ performance or feedback regarding the educational intervention.
   • Visuals: Use charts, graphs, or tables to display key findings, such as improvements in knowledge or satisfaction levels.
   • Impact on Learning: Summarize the program’s effectiveness in meeting its educational goals.

6. Discussion

   • Interpretation: Discuss the significance of the findings, how they relate to the objectives, and any unexpected outcomes.
   • Limitations: Mention any limitations of the educational program or evaluation approach.

7. Lessons Learned

   • Share insights gained from the program that could guide future educational initiatives or improvements.

8. Conclusion

   • Provide a brief summary of the program's success and its potential impact on education within the field.
9. References
   • Use a QR code and link to a document containing the references to save space

10. Future Directions

    • Outline any planned modifications, expansions, or follow-up assessments based on the results.

11. Acknowledgments

    • Acknowledge team members, collaborators, or funding sources that supported the program.

12. Contact Information

    • Provide an email or other contact details for further inquiries.

Meta-Analysis or Systematic Review Poster Format

1. Title

   • Concise and descriptive, indicating the focus of the review or synthesis.
   • Include the authors' names and institutional affiliations.

2. Introduction/Background

   • Research Question or Objective: Clearly state the research question or objective of the review.
   • Context: Provide a brief background on why this synthesis is important, highlighting gaps in current knowledge or conflicting findings in the literature.

3. Methods

   • Search Strategy: Describe the databases searched, search terms, and any inclusion or exclusion criteria used.
   • Selection Criteria: Outline the criteria for selecting studies, including study designs, population, or intervention types.
   • Data Extraction: Summarize the process for extracting relevant data from the included studies.
   • Data Analysis: For a meta-analysis, briefly describe the statistical methods used to pool data (e.g., effect size calculations, forest plots).

4. Results

   • Study Selection: Provide an overview of the number of studies screened, included, and excluded (often represented with a PRISMA flow diagram).
   • Study Characteristics: Briefly describe the characteristics of the included studies (e.g., sample sizes, interventions).
   • Main Findings: Summarize key results, such as pooled effect sizes, subgroup analyses, or notable trends.
   • Visuals: Use forest plots, summary tables, or charts to display findings clearly.

5. Discussion

   • Interpretation: Discuss the significance of the synthesized results, including any patterns or notable findings.
   • Limitations: Acknowledge any limitations, such as variability in study designs or potential publication bias.
   • Comparison to Previous Literature: Briefly compare the findings with prior reviews or meta-analyses, if applicable.

6. Conclusion

   • Summarize the key takeaways and any implications for clinical practice, policy, or future research.
7. References
   • Use a QR code and link to a document containing the references to save space.

8. Future Directions

   • Suggest areas for further research to address gaps or limitations identified in the synthesis.

9. Acknowledgments

   • Recognize contributors or funding sources that supported the review.

10. Contact Information

    • Provide an email or contact details for further inquiries.

Decisions about font face, size, and color are important.

Source: Carter M. Designing Science Presentations: A Visual Guide to Figures, Papers, Slides, Posters, and More. 2nd ed. Elsevier; 2021.

From the book Designing Science Presentations: A Visual Guide to Figures, Papers, Slides, Posters, and More:

From the book Designing Science Presentations: A Visual Guide to Figures, Papers, Slides, Posters, and More:

Additional Resources:

Use a table to facilitate finding single values of information from much larger datasets.

The maximum average monthly high temperatures for Fresno, CA are January, 57 F; February, 63 F; March, 69 F; April, 76 F; May, 85 F; June, 93 F; July, 98 F; August, 98 F; September, 91 F; October, 80 F; November, 66 F; December, 57 F. The minimum average low temperatures are January, 40 F; February, 43 F; March, 47 F; April, 51 F; May, 57 F; June, 63 F; July, 68 F; August, 66 F; September, 62 F; October, 54 F; November, 45 F; December, 50 F.

Graphs communicate patterns or trends within a specific dataset and relationships among multiple categories of data.

Source: Carter M. Designing Science Presentations: A Visual Guide to Figures, Papers, Slides, Posters, and More. 2nd ed. Elsevier; 2021.

Diagrams present information in visual form, conveying concepts more quickly and clearly than words alone.

Can you imagine trying to comprehend the Krebs Cycle in text alone?

Source: Andrew R Gross. Wikimedia Commons: CC-BY-SA. No changes were made.