CONTINUOUS QUALITY IMPROVEMENT APPLIED TO A SCIENTIFIC ASSEMBLY - THEHISTORY OF THE EASTERN-ASSOCIATION-FOR-THE-SURGERY-OF-TRAUMA

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to measure the quality of the research presented at the Eastern Association for the Surgery of T rauma (EAST) for the first 5 years. Methods: Abstracts from the scient ific assemblies of EAST, 1988-1992, were reviewed. Five elements were identified for each abstract, the research question, the research desi gn, the sampling method, the validity of the conclusions, and if the r esearch question was answered. These were identified because of their significant impact on the quality of the research presented in the abs tract format. Results: Two hundred two abstracts were reviewed. There was a significant improvement in research design, in the sampling meth od, in the validity of the conclusions, and in the proportion of resea rch questions answered. There was an initial improvement in the presen ce of a research question, but it was not sustained. Conclusion: The r esults clearly demonstrate an improvement in the quality of the abstra cts chosen for presentation at the scientific assembly of the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma. Further improvements can be mad e by adding the category of 'research question' or 'purpose' and requi ring a structured abstract.