Research abstracts

Address the scientific background and rationale for the study as well as the public health significance of the subject. Explain why your study is important and what question(s) it will answer.

Describe the study design, setting (such as community, clinic, hospital), study participants, analytic and/or intervention techniques and outcome measures.

Present the major quantitative and qualitative findings, accompanied by confidence intervals or levels of significance of statistical tests, as appropriate. Although negative as well as positive results may be of interest, report only those results that relate to your conclusion. Since an abstract may be cited, this section must contain data rather than a statement like “Data will be discussed”. If appropriate, state that the results are preliminary.

State only those conclusions that are directly supported by data. Report on the public health actions that are recommended and/or have been implemented as a consequence of the study such as:
a. initiating or enhancing prevention or other public health activities
b. developing procedure, policies or legislation
c. implementing and strengthening public health surveillance systems.
Highlight the magnitude of the public health impact by reporting on the process of output/outcome indicators (such as number of persons treated, amount of resources committed, evidence of improvements, changes in behaviour, etc.). Describe the ways in which the public health actions were innovative.