11 Dissemination
11.1 Introduction
The final step in the research process is to report your findings.1 This chapter covers the dissemination of research studies using secondary data from national health surveys. It includes details on how to disseminate results by abstracts, presentations, and original research manuscripts. This chapter builds on previous curricula designed to train medical students2 and physician assistant students3 in research methods. The previous curricula materials have been modified and enhanced for researchers focused on disseminated results from secondary data analysis.
11.2 Abstracts
Abstracts are brief summaries (typically 150-350 words) of preliminary findings or completed research projects. Abstracts are included at the beginning of most research manuscripts to inform the reader of the purpose, methods, most important findings, and implications of the research study. However, prior to being written to accompany manuscripts, abstracts can be written and submitted to professional organizations in calls for presentations during scientific sessions at professional meetings. Abstracts are usually structured like manuscripts using the following four sections: 1) introduction; 2) methods; 3) results; and 4) discussion (IMRAD).4 The IMRAD structure aligns with the processes of scientific discovery and health research. The health research process includes identifying a study question (introduction), selecting the study approach, designing the study and collecting data (methods), analyzing data (results), and reporting findings (discussion).1 However, some abstracts are unstructured without headings. Both formats include the same basic information about the research study. For abstracts using secondary data, it is important to include the source of the data as well as the years of data analyzed. Abstract guidelines for different professional meetings vary by organization. These guidelines should be provided with the call for abstracts shared on each professional meeting’s website. An overview of some guidelines for public health research conferences that accept abstracts for studies using secondary data from national health surveys is provided in Table 11.1.
Table 11.1. Sample abstract requirements for professional meetings accepting abstracts for research using secondary data from national health surveys for presentations
| blank cell | Academy Health | American Public Health Association | Gerontological Society of America |
|---|---|---|---|
| Word limit | 500 | 250 | 250 |
| Headings | Research Objective Study Design Population Studied Principal Findings Conclusions Implications for Policy or Practice |
Background Methods Results Conclusions |
None |
| Additional Requirements | None | At least 1 learning objective | At least 1 learning objective |
| *Note. This table has been adapted and updated from Table 11.1: Abstract requirements for common professional meetings in Kindratt & Kitzman-Ulrich’s (2014) chapter on disseminat