Submission Guidelines
Please, use the following templates for abstract submissions:
Abstract template (English)
Abstract template (Spanish)
Abstract Template (Portuguese)
Specific Guidelines for Abstracts
We welcome abstracts from quantitative and qualitative studies, scoping reviews,
systematic reviews, and meta-analyses.
QUANTITATIVE STUDIES
Title: Should relate to the main objective of the research and describe the study design (e.g., cohort, case-control, cross-sectional).
Objectives: This section should indicate the specific objective or the research question addressed in the project (e.g., "To determine whether...").
Descriptive Studies: Ideally use the PEO format (P: population/patients; E: exposure; O: outcome).
Analytical Studies: Ideally use the PICO format (P: population/patients; I: intervention; C: comparison/control; O: outcome) or PECO (P: population/patients; E: exposure; C: comparison/control; O: outcome).
If more than one objective is addressed, the main objective and only the key secondary objectives should be specified. If a priori hypotheses were tested, they must be stated.
Methods:
Study design: Describe the research design (e.g., cohort, case-control, cross-sectional).
Time frame: Include time references, follow-up dates or outcome dates, and any other relevant time points or ranges (e.g., 30-year prevalence, 2022–2023).
Participants:
The selection of participants must be clearly described in accordance with the epidemiological study design. For example:
- Cohort study: Provide main eligibility criteria, and the main sources and methods for participant selection. Briefly describe follow-up methods.
- Case-control study: Provide main eligibility criteria and main sources/methods for verifying cases and selecting controls.
- Cross-sectional study: Provide eligibility criteria and main sources/methods for participant selection.
Variables: Describe how they were collected and categorized.
Intervention (only for clinical trials): Describe the experimental and control interventions for each group with sufficient detail for replication, including how and when they were administered. Include randomization and blinding methods if applicable.
Data Analysis: Describe the rationale and type of data analysis used, if applicable.
Results:
Participants: Report the number of participants at the beginning and end of the study and their characteristics.
Main results: Report estimates of associations (e.g., relative risks, odds ratios, or prevalence ratios) among participants, if applicable. Consider translating relative risk estimates into absolute risk over a meaningful time to enhance interpretability and public health relevance. Report appropriate measures of variability and uncertainty (e.g., odds ratios with confidence intervals). When relevant, include approaches like the number needed to treat. Screening and diagnostic studies should report sensitivity, specificity, and likelihood ratios. If predictive value or accuracy is reported, pre-test probability or prevalence must also be provided. All RCTs should include intention-to-treat analysis results; all surveys should include response rates.
Conclusions:
Conclusions should provide an overall interpretation of study results. Include only findings directly supported by objective results and relevant implications for clinical practice, avoiding speculation and overgeneralization. Indicate whether additional research is needed before applying the findings in routine clinical settings. Give equal weight to positive and negative findings of scientific value.
QUALITATIVE STUDIES:
Title: A concise description of the nature and topic of the study. Identify the study as qualitative or specify the approach (e.g., ethnography, grounded theory).
Objectives: Clearly state the specific objective or research question addressed.
Methods:
Methodological Orientation and Theory: Indicate the theoretical framework supporting the study (e.g., grounded theory, discourse analysis, ethnography, phenomenology, content analysis).
Participant Selection:
- Sampling: How were participants selected? (e.g., purposive, convenience, snowball).
- Approach method: How were participants approached? (e.g., face-to-face, phone, email).
- Data collection setting: Where were data collected? (e.g., home, clinic, workplace).
- Data collection: Were interview guides, prompts, or pilot tests used?
Study units: Number and relevant characteristics of participants, documents, or events included in the study; level of participation (can be reported in the results).
Data analysis: Describe the method and software used for analysis.
Results:
Synthesis and interpretation: Main findings (e.g., interpretations, inferences, themes); may include theory/model development or integration with prior research or theory.
Conclusions:
Summary of main findings; discussion of how findings relate to or challenge previous research; discussion on applicability/generalizability; identification of contributions to prior knowledge in the field.
SYSTEMATIC OR SCOPING REVIEWS:
Title: Should relate to the main research objective and describe the design (e.g., systematic review, meta-analysis, scoping review).
Objectives: Clearly state the specific objective or research question addressed (e.g., "To determine whether..."). Use PEO, PICO, or PECO where possible.
Descriptive: Preferably using PEO (P: population/patients; E: exposure; O: outcome).
Analytical: Preferably using PICO (P: population/patients; I: intervention; C: comparison/control; O: outcome) or PECO.
If more than one objective is addressed, indicate the main objective and only key secondary objectives. State any a priori hypotheses.
Methods:
Search Strategy
Eligibility Criteria: Specify the characteristics of the sources of evidence used (e.g., years considered, language, publication status) and provide a rationale.
Information Sources: Describe all sources searched (e.g., databases with coverage dates, contact with authors) and the date of the last search.
Selection of Sources: Indicate the process for selecting evidence (e.g., screening and eligibility).
Risk of Bias: Specify methods used to assess risk of bias in included studies.
Results:
Included Studies: Provide the total number of included studies and participants and summarize relevant characteristics.
Synthesis of Results: Present the outcomes of primary endpoints, preferably stating the number of studies and participants. Report summary estimates and confidence intervals if meta-analysis was conducted. If group comparisons were made, indicate the direction of effect (i.e., which group was favored).
Conclusions:
Provide an overall interpretation of the results and highlight the most important implications.
Note: It is highly recommended to state that the PRISMA guidelines were followed (https://www.equator-network.org/reporting-guidelines/prisma/).
