Morag Thow Gayle Mackie Glasgow Caledonian University

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Morag ThowGayle Mackie Glasgow Caledonian
University

• Poster Presentations

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Poster Presentations

• Posters are being used more often Where?
• Conferences
• Patient Education
• Hospital Clinical education
• ASSESSMENT!!

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Objectives of a poster

• Generating interest
• Informing
• Selling your work
• Achieving credibility
• Leaving a lasting impression
• Passing assessment

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Poster Presentations

• Best piece of advice
• Take a little time to get it right!!

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Before you start

• The main headings may be decided by your
  conference/organisation Background, aims, method
  etc
• Who is the audience? This will determine your
  style
• Define your subject matter, be selective(space
  may be at a premium)
• Find out size (A1?)
• Can you simplify info?

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Planning

• Sketch out a rough draft
• Assign a number of words for each section
• Play around with the arrangement
• Think of diagrams, tables etc that can be used

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Different models

• Traditional
• A4 pages
• Several illustrations and graphs
• Detailed raw data
• Hard to extract meaning
• Lack of colour
• Long sentences
• Upper case titles
• Tight spacing
• Hard to link

• Contemporary
• Enlarged and edited
• One strong image
• Selected colour
• 1 font
• Comfortable spacing
• Easy to see links
• Easy to extract meaning of data

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Style shift

• Text (thesis/paper)
• Long sentences
• e.g. 42 words
• Elaborating points
• Signalling links
• Main points last
• Define and explain
• Persuade

• Poster
• Short sentences or bullet points
• e.g. 8 words
• Main points only
• Links not needed
• Main points first
• Show
• Stimulate discussion

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Type

• Posters must be readable at 1-2 meters
• Use typeface that is easy to read
• Times
• 18 point minimum
• The space between lines should be 1.5

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Words

• The use of subheadings helps with significance in
  each section
• Short sentences
• Use plain English
• Put key words at the start of sentence

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Words

• Plain English
• Within the UK setting there has been a marked
  increase___
• There has been a marked increase__

• Key words
• Reduced GTN use_
• A significant reduction

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Focal point

• Try to achieve a focal point
• Try to attract attention e.g. a dramatic photo

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Diagrams and illustrations

• Can be hand drawn or computer generated
• Keep simple
• Use colour code
• Supply a key

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Design features Colour

• Use colour to create an impression
• Define colours for background, borders and titles
• Be consistent with colour
• Dont go OTT!
• Screw up eyes!! (Higher art!)

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Efficacy of a 10 Minute Moist Heat Pack
Application on Hamstring Extensibility

Introduction Empirical evidence has shown that a
20 minute heat application significantly
increases hamstrings extensibility (Funk et al
2001). Within the time restraints of the
clinical setting this 20 minute duration is not
always practical or adhered. No evidence was
found to suggest that a shorter time span
influences soft tissue extensibility.

• Methods (continued)
• Equipment
• 6 x 6 silicon heat packs
• Hydroculator
• Cranlea Medical Electronics sit and reach box
• Thermocouple Instruments Ltd. - Model 505
  digital electrode thermometer
• Study design
• Repeated measures
• Dependent samples
• Statistical Analysis
• Paired t-test, all assumptions were met.

Aim The purpose of this study was to empirically
test the benefits of a ten minute heat
application on soft tissue extensibility of the
hamstrings. Hypotheses Ho- A heat pack placed
over the hamstrings for ten minutes will have no
significant difference on hamstring extensibility
as measured using the sit and reach test. H1 -
The use of a 10 minute moist heat application on
the hamstrings will significantly increase
flexibility in the hamstrings as measured using
the sit and reach test.
Results Temperature data Prior to heat pack
application the participants mean skin
temperature was 30.8C. All participants skin
temperature rose to between 40C-45C after four
minutes of heat pack application and remained
within this range for the remainder of the
test. Statistical analysis A paired samples
t-test revealed a significant difference in
hamstring flexibility of the treated leg pre and
post intervention, t (7) -2.475, p 0.043, this
is significant when alpha 0.05. The null
hypothesis was therefore rejected, with the
knowledge that a type 1 error may have
occurred. Trends Improvements were found in sit
and reach scores for both the treated and
untreated leg, with means for the treated leg
improving from 26.08cm to 28.21cm representing an
improvement of 2.13cm (graph 1), and the
untreated leg from 24.73cm-25.61cm (see graph 2).

• Methods
• Subjects
• Subjects had no previous hamstring injuries
• 4 female, 4 male students, all right leg
  dominant
• Demographic data see Table 1
• Screened for gastrocnemius passive insufficiency
  and low back flexibility
• Performed a practice of Sit and Reach test
  to identify area of tightness

• Discussion/ Conclusion
• The studies findings support the hypothesis that
  moist heat application for ten minutes will
  significantly improve the tissue extensibility of
  the hamstrings. This would appear to be of value
  in the clinical setting where the appropriate use
  of time is critical.
• Possible explanations for this effect are
• Alterations in the thermal-elastic properties of
  collagen at around 40C (Norris, 1998).
• An increase in viscosity of inter and intra
  muscular fluids (Kitchen, 1999).
• A decrease in secondary spindle afferent signals
  resulting in reduced muscle tension (Kitchen,
  1999).
• This study however, did not distinguish whether
  changes in extensibility were due to the
  expansion of the tissues molecules, or via the
  ability of the muscle to elongate further.
• A limitation of the study is that participants
  used had no previous injuries to the tested area.
  Therefore the ability to infer the findings on a
  subject that has had a previous hamstring injury
  is limited (Funk et al., 2001).
• Previous studies have shown that a moist heat
  pack was unable to penetrate beyond one
  centimetre of skin and subcutaneous tissue, and
  may limit increases to muscle temperature,
  especially given observations cited in Norris
  (1998) that 40C is a critical threshold for
  thermal transitions in collagen.
• Future research
• Investigation of optimal duration and
  temperature for moist heat application.
• Effect of fat as hamstring insulator.

Figure 1 Single leg sit and reach test
MSc Rehabilitation Science Brian Kerr Brett
Nagata James Thomson David Waugh
Table 1 Subject demographic data

• Protocol
• 1. Silicon heat pack heated for 4 hours in
  hydroculator at 70 Celsius
• 2. Pre-test Sit and Reach protocol was taken
  from Howley and Franks (1997) see figure 1.
• 3. Skin temperature sensation tested.
• 4. Skin temperature taken throughout test period
  using temperature
• probes placed between skin and heat pack
  application see figure 2.
• 5. Heat pack applied to posterior aspect of
  dominant leg midway between the greater
  trochanter and the lateral epicondyle of the
  femur see figure 3.
• 6. 10 minute heat pack application.
• Temperature monitored every two minutes.
• 7. Post-test Sit and Reach test as pre-test
  criteria

Figure 3 Application of heat pack
Figure 2 Testing initial skin temperature
References Funk, D., Swank, A.M., Adams, K.J. and
Treolo, D. (2001). Efficacy of moist Heat Pack
Application Over Static Stretching on Hamstring
Flexibility. Journal of Strength and
Conditioning Research. Vol. 15(1), pp.
123-126. Howley, E., Franks, B.D. (1997). Health
Fitness Instructors Handbook. Champaign Human
Kinetics, pp. 255-261. Kitchen, S. and Bazin, S.
(1999). Claytons Electrotherapy. London
Harcourt Publishers Ltd. pp. 95-105. Norris C.M.
(1999) Sports Injuries diagnosis and management
(3rd Edition). Oxford Butterworth Heineman, pp.
110-124.
Glasgow Caledonian University Cowcaddens
Road Glasgow G4 0BA
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The Prevalence Of Disabling Foot Pain In Patients
With Rheumatoid Arthritis
Glasgow Caledonian University, Cowcaddens Road,
GLASGOW G4 0BA
Foot involvement is very common in patients with
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) with foot pain being
reported early in the disease process. The
presence of foot pain can lead to impairment of
gait and disability and hence reduce the quality
of life. Data about the prevalence of foot pain
and the degree of disability are essential to
evaluate how serious these problems are in the
group of early diagnosed patients with RA. With
this knowledge, a treatment strategy to prevent
or ease foot pain can be developed.
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
The prevalence questionnaire was completed by 163
patients. The mean age of the sample was 52.2
years (16-84 years) and the mean disease duration
20.3 months (1-36 months). Foot pain was
reported in 64.4 of these patients during the
last month and 59.5 experienced pain at the time
of completing the questionnaire. One hundred and
thirteen patients completed the MFPDQ. The
results of the MFPDQ are illustrated in figure 1.
The survey found that around 60 of the sample
had foot problems within the last month and/or at
time of the survey. These results show that foot
pain is a serious problem that may occur early in
the disease. The total score and the pain score
of the MFPDQ demonstrate a similar distribution
with the majority of the patients having a
moderate disability (54/64), followed by severe
(30/20) and minor disability (17/14). The
ambulation subscale shows a different picture
with the greatest percentage reporting severe
disability (43), followed by moderate disability
(42) and 15 minor disability. These results
show the high impact of foot pain on the
patients life and especially ambulation.
AIM
The aim of this study was to gather data about
the prevalence of foot pain in early diagnosed
patients with RA and quantify its effect on
disability.
METHOD
CONCLUSION

• Patients 16 years and over, and diagnosed with RA
  up to three years prior to the survey were asked
  to complete a questionnaire which included
• demographic questions
• questions about the prevalence of foot pain
  related to RA
• during the last month
• and at present.
• Participants with foot pain also filled in the
  Manchester Foot Pain and Disability (MFPDQ)
  questionnaire which is a valid tool for
  quantifying disabling foot pain. It comprises
  19 questions of four subscales with the following
  aspects pain, ambulation, personal appearance
  and social life.

It can be concluded that due to the high
prevalence and the severity of foot pain in
patients with RA there is a need for adequate
treatment of this specific problem
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Poster Presentations The whats and whysGayle
Mackie, Glasgow Caledonian University
BACKGROUND
BASIC DESIGN PRICIPLES

• Make your point quickly
• Simplicity is the key
• Edit, condense and edit again
• Use pictures and graphics but dont crowd the
  poster
• Make sure everything in the poster is relevant
  e.g. dont add a list of references you havent
  used in the text
• Know your audience and design the poster with
  them in mind. Eliminate jargon and keep text
  clear and concise.
• Check your spelling mistakes dont look good in
  2 inch high text.

Figure 1 A presenter with her poster
Graph 1 shows the increasing popularity of poster
presentations. The data is from the American
Heart Association and shows the number of
abstracts accepted as posters. It is estimated
that over 500,000 posters will be accepted
worldwide, this year.1
WHY DO A POSTER?
It takes intelligence, even brilliance, to
condense and focus information into a clear,
simple presentation that will be read and
remembered. Ignorance and arrogance are shown in
a crowded, complicated, hard-to-read poster.
Mary Helen Briscoe
A poster can be used as an advertisement of your
research. It will, if well designed, attract
attention to your work and encourage audience
interaction and discussion. During a poster
session, you will be able to verbally elaborate
details to interested parties. The session is
normally more relaxed than an oral presentation
and when it is all over you will still have a
permanent display of your hard work.
Year
REFERENCES

• SciFor Inc. The Science Forumhttp//www.scifor.c
  om
• American Heart Association, National Center, 7272
  Greenville Avenue, Dallas, TX 75231
• http//www.americanheart.org

Abstracts accepted as posters
Graph 1. Data from the American Heart Association
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Presenting the poster

• Put your picture on the poster, with contact info
  etc
• Attach abstract or hand outs
• There may be time for questions outwith a large
  forum

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Transporting

• If paper try to protect in a tube or portfolio
• Lamination is good (expensive!)
• Take velcro to hang poster

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Useful Information

• www.strath.ac.uk/Departments/CAP/poster/
• www.strath.ac.uk/Departments/CAP/slides/
• Murray R, Thow MK and Strachan R (1998) Visual
  literacydesigning and presenting a poster
  Physiotherapy, 84, 7, 319-327.

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Evaluation activity

• Using the Poster checklist evaluate posters
  displayed
• Be prepared to discuss your evaluations with the
  group