Tips and strategies for effective medical posters

BACKGROUND: Medical conference posters are an effective way to quickly communicate research findings, interesting case studies, and educational information in a less formal and less regimented manner than oral presentations or journal publications. They are often described as expanded abstracts or even journal articles translated into graphic form. Posters allow authors the opportunity to interact more personally with colleagues than other presentation formats and to solicit a wide range of feedback on methods, analyses, and results. Creating an effective poster can be challenging but is also a professionally rewarding experience.

OBJECTIVE: There are four main objectives to the medical poster: 1) attract attention to the research, 2) concisely communicate research results, 3) facilitate discussion of the research, and 4) to exchange contact information with colleagues for further discussion of the research. This review will provide an overview of the poster development process with emphasis on common pitfalls and how to avoid them.

METHODS: Poster design starts with the choice of software layout programs. Common projector-driven software can be used but has numerous limitations. Graphic or vector drawing programs are more powerful but also more expensive and challenging to learn. There is an abundance of on-line poster templates to jump-start the design process but they can rarely be used without significant modification. Ultimately, poster design must be customized to fit the data and content. Common pitfalls include formatting errors that reduce readability, inappropriate use of fonts, colors, and trade names, excessive content, and often a lack of flow from one section to another.

OUTCOMES/CONCLUSIONS: A well designed poster is readable in ≤10 minutes and flows effortlessly from one section to another. It attracts attention to the research, concisely delivers the information, and facilitates discussion and contact between colleagues. It is often just the first step in the overall publication process.