Article

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 Most of the unpublished abstracts had never been submitted to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.
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Langue : ANGLAIS ; FRANCAIS