An analysis of recent conference abstract to publication rates for Australian medical imaging and radiation science conferences

Dr Jo-Anne Pinson

¹Monash Health, Clayton , Australia, ²Peninsula Health, Frankston, Australia, ³Monash University, Clayton, Australia

In Australia, there has been a strong drive to improve the research culture across Allied Health Therapy and Science disciplines, with the introduction of Allied Health Research and Translation Lead positions. These roles are to help support clinicians in conducting research. Conference attendance provides a platform to build and share scientific knowledge, disseminating information from current research that could lead to improving practices. Without publication of these research findings in peer-reviewed journals, the research cycle is not complete.

Aim: This study aims to quantify the conference abstract to publication rates across multiple Allied Health Science disciplines.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of 513, 353 and 297 Australian abstracts published between 2015 and 2017 in the Journal of Medical Radiation Sciences (ASMIRT conference, Radiography and Radiotherapy disciplines), Internal Medicine Journal (ANZSNM conference, Nuclear Medicine discipline), and Sonography (ASA conference, Sonography discipline) using PubMed, Google Scholar and Google was conducted.

Results: Conference abstract to publication rates were 18.4% for Radiography and 24.6% for Radiation Therapy disciplines at ASMIRT conferences, 19.3% for Nuclear Medicine at ANZSNM conferences, and 19.9% for Sonography at ASA conferences.

Conclusion: The conference abstract to publication rates for Allied Health Science Medical Radiation professionals are at the lower end of those reported for Radiology conferences, and are similar across disciplines.

Biography:

Jo is the Research Co-ordinator (Allied Health Research Translation Lead) at both Monash Health and Peninsula Health. Her role is to develop a research culture in medical imaging for radiographers, sonographers, and nuclear medicine technologists. She worked as a nuclear medicine technologist and lecturer for approximately 20 years before changing direction and completing an undergraduate, honours, and Ph.D. in medicinal chemistry. She has a broad range of research interests across medical imaging, health, and drug discovery.