ABSTRACT SUBMISSION DEADLINE: MONDAY, 22 MARCH 2019
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
To get started you will need to register as a new user. This is a simple step and will only take a few minutes. Once registered you can create a new abstract. Please note that if your abstract is successful, all presenting authors are required to register and pay for at least one day of the ACRA 2019 conference.
You will be asked to:
- Enter the name, email, and affiliations of all other authors
- Designate a presenting author
- Select a category (Research Abstract; Clinical Abstract; OR Clinical Excellence Showcase)
- Indicate if you would like to be considered for a Prize session (Applicable to Research and Clinical abstracts only)
- Indicate preferred presentation type (Oral or Poster)
- Enter the abstract title (Title should be brief, interesting and describe the scope, content and focus of what you want to present. Only capitalise the first word and pronouns in your title)
- Enter abstract content (Maximum 250 words. Word count includes tables; does not include title; figures count as 20 words. Upload any tables/figures in ONE separate PDF)
SUBMISSION CATEGORIES
1) RESEARCH ABSTRACT:
Have you conducted scientific research or investigated a topic in the field of cardiac care? We are seeking abstracts on the latest research with original data (this includes quantitative or qualitative studies, systematic/narrative reviews and meta-analyses). This is your chance to share your study findings with colleagues.
SUGGESTED HEADINGS:
- Background: Outline the knowledge gap/why is this topic important. State the aim of your research.
- Methods: Succinct description of study design and methodology including Population/ problem; Intervention/Exposure; Comparison/control (if applicable); and Outcome measure? What data were collected and how were they managed/ analysed?
- Results: What did you find/discover? Be succinct yet give the reader a summary analysis of the data and any table or figure.
- Conclusions/Implications: What can be concluded from the project? Keep your conclusions reasonable and ensure they can be confirmed by the findings of your work. What are the health/policy implications, and implications for future work?
2) CLINICAL ABSTRACT:
Have you found an identifiable gap in knowledge relating to clinical practice that warranted investigation? Have you established a new service to fill an identified need? Do you have tips for implementation that you could you pass on to others? This is your chance to share your challenging clinical scenarios with your colleagues, and guide discussion for potential improvements.
SUGGESTED HEADINGS:
- Background/Rationale: Indicate why the topic is important (knowledge gap). Why was your project undertaken?
- Methods: Succinct description of what was done and how, by whom, involving whom and where? What measurements were taken and how?
- Outcomes: What did you find/discover? Be succinct yet give the reader a summary analysis of the data and any table or figure.
- Implications for practice: What are the clinical implications of this work? What can other practitioners learn? How might this change practice?
- Conclusions / Key messages: What can be concluded from the project? Keep your conclusions reasonable and ensure they can be confirmed by the findings of your work. What are the suggestions for future work?
3) CLINICAL EXCELLENCE SHOWCASE:
Have you implemented an innovative practice or QI project? Overcome a clinical challenge? Set-up a program or service which offers something a little out of the ordinary? If so, we want to hear from you! This session will consist of 5 rapid-fire presentations, which are designed to share ideas to improve care. The aim is for these presentations to be short (3 minutes), sharp, informative and above all, fun! We hope to leave delegates with at least one good, practical idea to implement in their own practice.
SUGGESTED CONTENT: (These abstracts do not require structured headings; and are submitted in the same way as other abstracts)
- What was the problem you were faced with or gap you needed to fill?
- How did you go about it? What did you do? What steps did you take?
- What outcomes have occurred as a result of your innovation/project?
- Lessons learnt from the process that you can share with others
PRESENTATION FORMATS
- Prize session: Four finalists for each abstract category (Research and Clinical) will be chosen to present in a plenary session, based on ranking of the abstracts. Each presentation is allocated 10 minutes presentation time, plus 5 minutes Q&A.
- Oral presentation: Twenty-four abstracts will be chosen for an oral presentation. Each presentation is allocated 10 minutes presentation time, plus 2 minutes Q&A.
- Clinical Excellence showcase: Five people will be chosen to present in the Clinical Excellence showcase. Each presentation is allocated 3 minutes presentation time, plus 2 minutes Q&A.
- Moderated Poster: Five people will be chosen to formally discuss their poster during an allocated session in one of the tea breaks. Each presentation is allocated 3 minutes presentation time, plus 1 minute Q&A
- Poster: Posters will be displayed for the duration of the conference program. There will be a dedicated informal Poster Session during the conference, during which time you will be required to stand beside your poster.
PRIZES
Both ACRA members and non-members are eligible for prizes. The following prizes will be awarded during the Conference:
- Best Research Presentation
- Best Clinical Presentation
- Best Clinical Excellence Showcase
- People’s Choice
- Best Poster
REVIEW PROCESS
All abstracts will undergo a blind peer-review process by the Scientific Committee. The Scientifc Committee will allocate abstracts to the program taking into account the balance of the program. It is expected the review process will be complete towards the end of May 2019. A notification email will be sent to the submitting authors.
Abstracts will be marked on the following criteria:
- Concise and clear information
- Quality and appropriateness of study design/intervention
- Results / scientific merit
- Impact and/or significance
- Clarity of conclusions
- Relevance to the field