NATA Research & Education
Foundation
The mission of the NATA Research and Education
Foundation Free Communications Program is to advance the discovery, dissemination,
and application of scientific knowledge in athletic training domains through
written and oral forum. This mission
is realized by communicating scientific knowledge to the athletic training
community through the sharing of peer-reviewed unique clinical case reports
and original research reports during our annual symposium, as well as their
publication in the Journal of Athletic Training. To assure the exchange of valuable information,
the NATA Research and Education Foundation utilizes a blinded peer-review
process for abstracts following standardized guidelines, but expects abstracts
to be submitted at a quality worthy of publication.
CALL FOR ABSTRACTS
for the
National Athletic Trainers' Association
Annual Meeting & Clinical Symposia
Philadelphia, PA; June 22 to June 25,
2010
DEADLINE FOR ABSTRACT
SUBMISSION IS DECEMBER 1, 2009
(All
abstracts submitted for presentation must be submitted ONLINE.)
Instructions for Abstract Preparation and Submission
Please
read all instructions before preparing and submitting the abstract. Individuals may submit only one Original Research
Abstract or Clinical Case Report Abstract as the primary (presenting)
author, but may submit unlimited abstracts as a secondary author. All abstracts will undergo blind review. All presentations must be of original work (not
previously presented). This restriction
includes any electronic/internet postings. Exceptions to this restriction are limited to
athletic training organizations' state and district meetings and the NATA
Athletic Training Educators' Conference.
The Original Research Abstract must be written to the accepted scientific
standards of a research area and should present findings pertaining to healthcare
issues related to the athletic training profession. The Clinical Case Report Abstract should
present a unique individual athletic injury case of general interest to the
NATA membership.
1. Prepare your abstract (on your computer) in accordance with the following
instructions. You will later be directed
to upload your abstract file from your computer to the Abstract Manager system.
2. Top, bottom, right, and left margins of the body of the abstract (in a
WORD file) should be set at 1" using the standard 8.5" x 11"
format. Use either Arial or Helvetica 12pt. font with
single spacing. Provide the title of
the paper or project starting at the top left margin.
3.
On the next line, indent 3 spaces and provide the names of all authors, with
the author who will make the presentation listed first. Enter the last name, then initials (without periods),
followed by a comma, and continue the same format for all secondary authors
(if any), ending with a colon.
4.
On the same line following the colon, indicate the name of the institution
(including the city and state) where the research was conducted. If primary author is not at the institution where
the work was completed place an * after their name and following the institution
where the research was conducted the primary author can indicate their present
institution (including the city and state). For collaborative projects where portions of
the project were conducted at different institutions, list all authors as
described above (#3), then list institutional affiliations using the following
consecutive symbols (*, †, ‡, §, ║, ¶, #, **, etc.)
5.
Double space and begin entering the body of the abstract flush left in a single
paragraph with no indentions. The
text of the body must be structured (with the headings as indicated
in the various formats below). Do not
justify the right margin. Do not include
tables or figures. The body of the abstract for Original Research is limited to 450 words.
The
body of the abstract for a Clinical Case Report is limited to 600 words. A word count generated by MS Word must be included
at the bottom of the abstract. The
word count should include the body of the abstract and structured headings.
6.
The required formats for the structured abstracts
are listed below. For further clarification,
authors should consult the AMA Manual of Style 9th edition and
the instructions for authors in the Journal of Athletic Training.
7. Abstracts fall into one of the following 6 categories; the author is responsible for determining the most applicable category for structuring their abstract. Each is provided with examples where applicable but the examples are not all encompassing and some may overlap. Authors should choose the format that seems to best fit and present their data or case study.
· Basic Sciences (e.g. muscle tissue biopsy, EMG, etc)
· Epidemiology (e.g. cohort, case-control, intervention,
clinical trial)
· Biomechanics (e.g. motion analysis, jump landing characteristics)
· Instrument development (e.g. validation and reliability, psychometrics)
· Cross-sectional survey (e.g. paper, web-based, or interview
questionnaires)
Meta-Analysis Research & Systematic Reviews
· Meta-analysis (e.g. review and analysis of ACL clinical trials)
· Systematic Review (e.g. review of all clinical trials of the ACL without analysis)
· Research using qualitative techniques (e.g. interviews or direct observation, etc)
· Report of a Single Patient Case (e.g. snake bites football
player)
Clinical Case Series (added in 2009)
· A series of similar patients numbering between 1 and 10
· Purposely followed to describe their clinical outcomes
Review Criteria for All Original Research Abstracts:
· Completeness of requested information in each structured
heading.
· Overall clarity of writing
· Originality of research
· Methods and results address the primary objective
·
Consistency between data and conclusions
·
Adequacy of sample size to support
conclusions
[Click Here] Common Reasons Leading to Rejection of Research Abstracts
Review Criteria for All Clinical Case Report Abstracts:
· MUST PROVIDE Patient
Release of Information Form
(retain in your files until requested)
· Completeness of requested information in each structured
heading.
· Overall clarity of writing
· Originality of clinical case report
·
Case managed within the standard of
care
[Click Here]
The Title of your Abstract
Bolded and in Title Case
[3 spaces]Doe JT*, Public JQ†: *First
Author's Institution Name, †Second Author's Institution.
[Blank Line]
Context: Write a sentence
or two summarizing the rationale for the study, providing a reason for the
study question and/or uniqueness of study. Objective: State
the precise objective(s) or question(s) addressed in the report, including
a priori hypotheses if applicable. Design:
Describe the overall study design of the project reported (e.g., randomized
controlled trial, crossover trial, cohort or cross-sectional). Setting: Describe the environment
in which the study was conducted to help readers understand
the transferability of the findings, (e.g., patient clinic, research laboratory
or field). Patients or
Other Participants: Describe the underlying target population, selection
procedures (e.g., population based sample, volunteer sample or convenience
sample) and important aspects of the final subject pool (e.g., number, average age, weight, height and measures of variance,
years of experience or gender). Appropriate sample size should be evident.
Interventions: Interventions are the independent variables
in the study. Describe the essential pieces of the experimental
methods, types of materials, measurements and instrumentation utilized, data
analysis procedures and statistical tests employed. Provide validity and reliability information
on novel instrumentation. Main
Outcome Measures: Clearly identify primary or critical dependent variables
that support the primary objective(s) of the study. Indicate the statistical
analysis employed to answer the primary research objective(s). Results:
The main results of the study should be given. Comparative reports must*
include descriptive data (e.g., proportions, means, rates, odds ratios or
correlations), accompanying measures of dispersion (e.g., ranges, standard
deviations or confidence intervals) and inferential statistical data. Results should be accompanied by the exact level
of statistical significance. The P value should not exceed 3 digits to the
right of decimal. When the exact significance
is below P < .001, the exact
significance should be reported as P < .001. Conclusions:
Summarize or emphasize the new and important findings of the study. The conclusion
must be consistent with the study objectives and results as reported and should
be no more than three to four sentences. If
possible, relate implications of the findings for clinical practice. Word
Count: Limited to 450 words including headings.
* The purpose of having both descriptive and inferential data is that it provides the reader with the ability to judge
the concluding statements. Descriptive data provides confidence that
the data are ‘reliable’ and provides a gauge to determine whether the inferential
statistics and conclusions are meaningful. Studies reporting analysis
of larger data bases with multiple variables do not need to report all descriptive
data, but should provide descriptive data for those variables which the author(s)
believe to be the primary outcome(s) and support the overall conclusions of
the study.
[Click Here ] Examples of Accepted Basic Research Abstracts
Format For Survey Research Abstracts
The Title of your Abstract
Bolded and in Title Case
[3 spaces]Doe JT*, Public JQ†: *First
Author's Institution Name, †Second Author's Institution.
[Blank Line]
Context: Write a sentence
or two summarizing the rationale for the study, providing a reason for the
study question. Objective:
State the precise objective(s), purpose or question(s) addressed in the report.
Design: Describe the overall study design of the project
reported (e.g., cross sectional, case-control, longitudinal or controlled intervention
trial). Setting: Describe the environment in which the
study was conducted to help readers understand the transferability
of the findings, (e.g., population-based, patient clinic, classroom
or athletic event). Patients or Other Participants:
Describe the underlying target population, sample selection procedures
(e.g., population based, volunteer or convenience sample, random
or systematic sample, or stratified or cluster sampling) and important aspects
of the final subject pool (e.g., number, average age,
years of experience or gender). Provide
the final response rate. Interventions: Interventions are the independent variables in the study.
Describe the essential pieces of the experimental methods, the mode of survey
administration (e.g., in-person interview, telephone, self- administered,
online or computer-assisted), details of the survey development
(formative research or pre-testing for new instruments), execution
and data collection process, and instruments utilized. Provide validity and reliability information
for all new instruments. Main
Outcome Measures: Clearly identify primary or critical
dependent variables that support the primary objective(s) of the study. Describe
how any data was manipulated (e.g. scoring process for scaled instruments
or categorization of variables). Indicate the data and statistical analysis
employed to answer the primary research objective(s). Results: The
main results of the study should be given. Reports must* include
descriptive data (e.g., proportions, means, rates, odds ratios or correlations),
accompanying measures of dispersion (e.g., ranges, standard deviations or
confidence intervals) and inferential statistical data. Results should be accompanied by the exact level
of statistical significance. The P value should not exceed 3 digits to the
right of decimal. When the exact significance
is below P < .001, the exact
significance should be reported as P < .001. Conclusions: Summarize or emphasize the new and important findings of the study and
relate implications of the findings for clinical practice. The statement
of your findings must be consistent with the results as reported and should
be no more than three to four sentences. Word
Count: Limited to 450 words including headings.
* The purpose of having both descriptive and inferential data is that it provides the reader with the ability to judge
the concluding statements. Descriptive data provides confidence that
the data are ‘reliable’ and provides a gauge to determine whether the inferential
statistics and conclusions are meaningful. Studies reporting analysis of larger
data bases with multiple variables do not need to report all descriptive data,
but should provide descriptive data for those variables which the author(s)
believe to be the primary outcome(s) and support the overall conclusions of
the study.
[Click Here] Examples of Accepted Survey Research Abstracts
Format For Meta-Analysis and Systematic Reviews
[3 spaces]Doe JT*, Public JQ†: *First
Author's Institution Name, †Second Author's Institution.
[Blank Line]
Context: Write a sentence
or two summarizing the rationale for the study, providing a reason for the
study question. Objective: State the precise objective(s)
or question(s) addressed in the report, including a priori hypotheses if applicable. Data Sources: Identify how relevant
research papers were identified - include databases and timeframe, key words
and search limits. Study Selection:
Describe the processes through which studies were selected for inclusion for
further analysis. Data Extraction:
Identify the number of investigators, the descriptive and measurement data
obtained and if and how the quality of study methods was evaluated.
Data Synthesis: Describe how the data were organized,
the statistical procedures applied (during assessment of heterogeniety) and
the results (e.g., effect sizes, odds ratios and confidence intervals) of
the analysis. Conclusions: Summarize or emphasize the
new and important findings of the study and relate implications of the findings
for future research and/or for clinical practice and offer an indication as
to the strength of the evidence provided. The statement of your findings must be consistent
with the results as reported. Word
Count: Limited to 450 words including headings.
[Click Here] Examples of Accepted Meta-Analysis and
Systematic Abstracts
The Title of your Abstract
Bolded and in Title Case
[3 spaces]Doe JT*, Public JQ†: *First
Author's Institution Name, †Second Author's Institution.
[Blank Line]
[Click Here]Examples of Accepted Qualitative Research Abstracts
Format
For Clinical Case Report Abstracts
NOTE:
All clinical case report abstracts submitted to Free Communications
must have permission of the patient prior to submission. [Click
here] for example.
The
Title of your Abstract Bolded and in Title Case
[3 spaces]Doe JT*, Public JQ†: *First
Author's Institution Name, †Second Author's Institution.
[Blank Line]
Background: Include the
individual's age, sex, sport or activity, pertinent aspects of their medical
history, a brief history of their complaint and physical findings from the
athletic trainer's examination. Differential
Diagnosis: Include all possible diagnoses suspected based on the history,
mechanism of injury, and the initial clinical examination prior to physician
evaluation and subsequent diagnostic imaging and laboratory tests. Treatment: Include
the physician's evaluation and state the results of diagnostic imaging and
laboratory results if performed. The final diagnosis of the injury or condition
and subsequent treatment and clinical course followed should be clearly detailed.
Relevant and unique details should be included, as well as the final
outcome of the case. Uniqueness: Briefly describe the
uniqueness of this case such as its mechanism, incidence rate, evaluate findings,
rehabilitation, or predisposing factors. Conclusions:
Include a concise summary of the case as reported and highlight the case's
importance to the athletic training profession and provide the reader with
a clinical learning opportunity. Word
Count: Limited to 600 words including headings.
[Click Here] Examples of Accepted Clinical Case Report Abstracts
Format For Clinical Case Series Abstracts
The Title of your Abstract
Bolded and in Title Case
[3 spaces]Doe JT*, Public JQ†: *First
Author's Institution Name, †Second Author's Institution.
[Blank Line]
Background: Describe the underlying target population and important aspects of the subject pool (e.g., number, average age, weight, height (with measures of variance, sex, sport or activity, and years of experience). Pertinent aspects of their medical histories should be included. Describe their complaints, MOI, initial clinical examination, diagnostic imaging, lab tests, and their commonality (examples: characteristic, injury, postural/gait abnormality, pathology, MOI). It is encouraged to present information as a group or average (proportions). Treatment: The clinical course followed should be clearly detailed. Time frame should be provided and averaged if possible. Relevant and unique details should be included. Specific outcome variables in which all patients within the series were evaluated for should be listed. The final outcome of these variables should be provided in respect to their common characteristic. Results: The unique subsequent treatment, prevention program, specific rehab program, special/diagnostic test, outcomes, or predisposing factors, that all subjects experienced is explained. Use of percentages is encouraged. Uniqueness: Briefly describe the uniqueness of these cases as a whole. Conclusions: Conclusions should recap the most important background, treatment, and uniqueness points for the reader. Your conclusions must be consistent with the final outcome. Statements should concisely describe the most pertinent points of your clinical cases while providing the reader a clinical learning opportunity. Avoid statements of cause and effect since these are observational reports. Word count: 600
At this time we have no examples since this is the first year of this catagory.
Information
Regarding Student Free Communications Student Awards Program
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ABSTRACTS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED AFTER DECEMBER 1, 2009
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