Module Components

• Overview
• Assignments

Topics

• Implementation
• Dissemination and Abstract

NDNP 812 – DNP Project Implementation

Module 3: Preparing for Dissemination

Dissemination and Abstract

The success of disseminating evidence-based practice recommendations is ultimately measured by the degree to which it influences or is used to change practice. Oral presentations at scientific conferences or publication provide a forum for the rapid dissemination of findings directly to health professionals who can apply the results in their setting.

In the UMSON DNP Program, all students are required to conduct three disseminations. Search for opportunities to formally present your DNP project findings in the spring. 

Examples of “formal” presentations outside the organization include

• podium or poster presentations at a local, regional, or national professional conference
• governmental or professional council
• boards of professional organizations
• governmental task force
• professional coalition
• Students may present formally within the project organization if the forum is agency-wide such as Grand Rounds or Poster Day.
• Staff, unit, or department meetings do not meet the requirements for formal dissemination.

 

Abstract

Abstract writing is an important part of the craft of writing papers and should be given the attention it deserves. Journals provide guidance on how to write abstracts and this should be consulted. When you are writing an abstract, keep in mind the purpose is to tell the potential reader what your paper is about; an abstract is a summary of your paper – your whole paper – not just a summary of the results or the method. It includes well-chosen words on each aspect of the paper.

These words must be well-chosen because the number you may use will be limited, commonly 250 – 500 words. It is wise to write unlimited initially and then revise your abstract several times to adhere to the word count. Avoid unnecessary words. For example, do not use ‘in order to’ when ‘to’ will suffice; likewise, ‘it was considered that’ can be replaced by ‘we considered’ and ‘the results of this study show’ is equally well written as ‘the results show”.

For more information on abstracts, review this handout developed by the University of Maryland Baltimore Writing Center.

Subheadings of Abstract for NDNP 812

Use the following headings for the purposes of the Abstract assignment in NDNP 812. Note that your conference may require a different format/headings. If that is the case, you are required to write both:

• Problem – describes the problem within the organization in which the DNP project was implemented (internal evidence) and give the purpose of your project
• Purpose – describes the practice change being implemented
• Methods – describe the most significant details about the methodology
• Results* – give a summary of the primary findings of your project
• Conclusions* – briefly summarize the overall conclusions based on purpose and goals of project, and give implications for practice

* The manuscript submitted as an assignment in NDNP 812 should include Preliminary Results and Preliminary Conclusions as subheadings since data collection is incomplete. The term “preliminary” will be deleted from these subheadings in NDNP 813 when the final manuscript is submitted. You could also state what you plan to discuss under results and conclusions, such as: “The plan is to discuss our findings in terms of [include the specific structure, process and outcome measures you will focus on].” In this case, you are making no claims about the findings.

Common Errors in Writing Abstracts

• Too much introductory material
• Incomplete sentences
• Length or format does not conform to guidelines
• Repetition of title in an abstract
• Citation of references or use of abbreviations
• Use of undefined terms in results section, such as “dramatic”
• Conclusions are not fully supported by the data or literature

 

Tips on Format

• Use simple sentences and the active voice.
• Include key words that interested readers would use as search terms for online searches.
• Write interventions in past tense.
• Do not use abbreviations or add citations of references.
• Hold maximum word count to no more than 350 words.
• Be sure to describe project in a way that is relevant to attendees (leadership, quality, clinicians, consumers, etc.)
• Use double spacing for abstract
• Do not use any indents – headings should be followed by colon and content on the same line

 

Who to Include As Co-Authors on Abstracts

When submitting an abstract for an oral or poster presentation at a conference, the guidelines for authorship are the same for an oral/poster conference presentation and a journal article. As per the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), in order for a contributor to be listed as an “author,” he or she must meet four main points:

1. Substantial contributions to the conception or design of the work; or the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data for the work; AND
2. Drafting the work or revising it critically for important intellectual content; AND
3. Final approval of the version to be published; AND
4. Agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.

Co-authors must meet all of the above criteria.

• Project faculty advisors meet all of these criteria and should be added as second authors on your abstracts.
• If your Clinical Site Representative (CSR) and second reader also meet all 4 of these criteria, discuss with them if they want to be added as a co-author. If they do not want to be included as a co-author, you should ask them is they would like to be noted under “Acknowledgments” on the oral/poster presentation.

The guidelines noted above also align with the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines for authorship.
What is NOT considered as authorship:

• a faculty or CSR looking over a poster or manuscript and saying “looks good”
• a statistician running t-tests or chi-squares
• copy editing
• a CSR helping to schedule team meetings and collecting data

The exception to adding others to an abstract for a conference is if the conference guidelines require every person on the abstract to be present at the conference presentation. In that case, only those who meet the above requirements and plan to attend the presentation should be listed as an author.