Fate of abstracts presented at the 2008 congress of the French Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Society

Abstract

Publication of abstracts presented at a scientific meeting is a measure of the latter's scientific quality.

Objectives: To evaluate the publication rate for abstracts presented at the 2008 congress of the French Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Society (SOFMER) and to identify (i) factors that were predictive of publication and (ii) the main reasons for non-publication.

Methods: We searched the PubMed database for publications related to SOFMER 2008 abstracts. We then screened the abstracts' characteristics for features that were predictive of publication. Authors of abstracts that had not been published were contacted (by e-mail) in order to establish the reason(s) for non-publication.

Results: Of the 231 abstracts presented at SOFMER 2008, 49 (21.2%) had been published. Original studies submitted by French university teams were more likely to be published. Most of the unpublished abstracts had never been submitted to scientific journals. A heavy workload (limiting the time available for drafting a publication) and unwillingness to submit incomplete or preliminary studies were the main barriers to submission for publication.

Conclusion: SOFMER 2008s abstract publication rate was lower than those of other national or international medical congresses. University status and the performance of original research were predictive of publication.

Keywords: Abstract; Congress; Congrès; Médecine physique et de réadaptation; Physical and rehabilitation medicine; Publication rate; Résumé; Taux de publication.