title: [Not Available].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the process of evaluating abstracts in the 2006 National Quality in Healthcare Conference in order to contribute to its continuous improvement, and to present its main scientific results.
  
  
  METHODS
  
  
  
  METHODS
  descriptive study. 11 pairs of reviewers using explicit criteria evaluated abstracts.
  
  
  METHODS
  all the abstracts received.
  
  
  METHODS
  abstracts were accepted/rejected according to reviewers' concordant decisions. Disagreements were re-evaluated by 3 reviewers. Accepted abstracts were organized and distributed in the Conference according to the following criteria: total amount, available room and time, number of reviewers. The abstracts nominated for awards and which did not have discrepancies higher than 25 points were re-evaluated by all the reviewers. Their presentations in the Conference were also reviewed by a panel of judges created for this purpose, according to an evaluation guide.
  
  
  RESULTS
  849 communications were received. Each reviewer evaluated a mean of 79 communications, obtaining an average score of 56 points. 762 communications were accepted (89.7%), 56.8% of them as a poster. Madrid (133) and Catalonia (124) had the highest amount of presentations in the Conference, but Cantabria and Murcia obtained the highest rates per million inhabitants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite the recently introduced changes, evaluating abstracts is a complex methodological process that still can be improved. It is conditioned by the need for limiting the extension of oral presentations and Conference time management. The scientific contribution to the Conference keeps rising. Its venue represents a geographic opportunity to encourage quality works.
authors.affiliation: Presidente del Comité Científico del XXIV Congreso SECA.
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Parra
authors.forename: Julio J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: López-Picazo
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ramón
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gomis